" . .Motorists suffered more than 24 hours of traffic chaos after one of the busiest stretches of the M25 was closed by a lorry crash. . . . . doctors were today battling to save the life of one person this morning, who was last night airlifted from the scene with life-threatening injuries. Two others were seriously hurt. . .
‘A heavy goods vehicle suffered a tyre blow out and has lost control striking the central reservation barrier and overhead gantry,’ a police spokesman said today. . ”
The above is an extract from the Daily Mail Newspaper on 6th August 2011, following a serious incident which closed the M25 motorway (south of London), on 5th August 2011.
We are pleased to report that the injured parties are now all stable, but will require a period of rehabilitation.
The incident is being investigated by the Police and any learnings will be circulated following its completion, but in the meantime we ask the question . . .how can we reduce tyre blowouts . .
What causes a blowout?
When a tyre is under-inflated more heat builds up inside it, which may eventually lead to a blow out. This may then cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, putting the driver and other motorists at risk
How can we help to prevent blowout?
1) Have a tyre fitter check the tyre pressure regularly
2) Check the tyre pressure is correct for the vehicle manufacturers recommended pressure
3) Clean dirt from the valves and fit valve caps
4) Pre-start checks:-
a. Remove any stones and other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for any bulges, lumps or cuts in the tread or sidewalls
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. . .and the benefits of tyre maintenance. . .
1) Safety – driver, public and tyre fitters
2) Vehicle Handling – acceleration, braking and cornering
3) Fuel Economy
4) Premature tyre wear
5) Vehicle downtime
6) Legal and Financial: Avoiding fines and penalties from (£2,500 and 3 points UK)
