South Yorkshire is joining a national effort to remind all road users to check their tyres and stay safe this winter.

The ‘What’s Stopping You?’ campaign, from charity Tyre Safe UK, puts the spotlight on the risks and dangers associated with underinflated, bald and faulty tyres.

Throughout October, South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) is supporting the work of the charity and raising awareness about the links between collisions and defective tyres.

Manager Joanne Wehrle said: “An estimated one-in-five drivers have never checked the tread on their tyres, a startling number which rises to one-in-three among young drivers.

“As well as reducing the risk of an incident on the roads, checking and maintaining tyres reduces the cost of motoring as underinflated tyres will wear quicker and cause the vehicle to use more fuel.

“As the only point of contact between the road and the vehicle, it is tyres which are crucial for safe and effective braking and cornering.”

The campaign, which will feature ‘how to videos’, will run across Safer Roads’ social channels and portray scenarios involving families, loved ones and young drivers to resonate with a range of audiences.

Key themes include the law on tread depth, the 20p test, tyre condition, how to check tyre pressure and aquaplaning.

Joanne added: “With the winter months approaching, driving conditions are likely to get increasingly difficult which means we are all at greater risk of being involved in a collision.

“Without adequate tread depth your tyres may not be able to perform properly in wet conditions, reducing your safety on the road.

“It is therefore advisable to consider replacing your tyres well before they reach the legal minimum.

“Furthermore, drivers whose tyres fail to comply with the minimum tread depth requirements risk a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.”

For more information on the campaign visit: https://www.tyresafe.org/