Wednesday 9 September 2009

HiQ treading a path to eliminate illegal tyres


If you’re driving on illegal tyres, then HiQ, the nationwide fast fit network, has come up with three hard hitting reasons to take immediate action.


HiQ’s 1-2-3 campaign is about to grab the headlines as the network treads a path to eliminate illegal tyre usage across the UK.


For some drivers, highlighting the danger of bare, worn tyres is not enough. Some tangible reasons to regularly check tread depths and replace where necessary is needed.


This is why HiQ, the nationwide fast fit network, has come up with a no-nonsense, three pronged approach to tyre safety in a bid to rid the roads of an unnecessary danger.


1. One worn or defective tyre could cost you £2,5001
2. Worn tyres add two lengths to your stopping distance at 50mph in wet conditions2
3. Each tyre with a tread depth less than 1.6mm could add 3 penalty points to your licence1


HiQ British Touring Car Championship stars Fabrizio Giovanardi and Andrew Jordan (pictured)are backing HiQ’s campaign, which is being launched this month and will coincide with free tyre safety checks at all of its 140 centres.


Marketing manager Geraldine McGovern explained: “We wanted to generate some hard hitting messages that motorists will take note of.


“The prospect of penalty points to your licence, let alone the cost implications and safety element, is particularly strong and a fact that we hope will resonate with a number of people.


“The aim of this campaign is more than just getting people to change illegal tyres. We want it to have far more longevity than that, with messages that will stay with drivers for a long, long time.”


To supplement the campaign, every HiQ centre will be offering free tyre safety checks for the rest of the year.


Recent research suggests that up to 3.5 million motorists in the UK are driving on illegal tyres3, which further supports HiQ’s case that a worrying ignorance exists amongst drivers when it comes to road safety.


To make the most of HiQ’s free tyre safety checks, please click on www.hiqonline.co.uk/123 for your nearest centre.





Notes to Editors:
1 The penalties for having illegal tyres are currently a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre. This relates to the law as defined in Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
2 Stopping distances: Tests carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) involving four different vehicles travelling on wet roads on four different tread depths. At 50 mph on 3mm tread depth stopping distance = 31.7 m. On 1.6 mm tread depth stopping distance was increased 39.5 metres.
3 Source: National Tyre Distributors Association figures show that of nearly 60,000 cars checked, 7,000 were being driven on at least one illegal tyre. The findings suggest that as many as 3.6 million cars in the UK could also be running on illegal tyres, if the figures were extrapolated across the population. (http://www.tyresafe.org/news-and-events/detail/drivers-risk-death-by-driving-on-illegal-tyres/)

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