On 23 June, The Department for Transport launched a consultation about its proposals to ban tyres over 10 years old from certain vehicles, including removals trucks.

The consultation will run until 1 September, 2019. If supported, the new rules could be in force by early 2020.

Tyres aged 10 years and older would be banned from use on buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses.

While high-mileage trucks are unlikely to be affected, removals vans, which spend much of their working lives being loaded and unloaded, could conceivably be running on very old tyres.

The consultation follows a passionate campaign by Frances Molloy, whose son Michael died in a coach crash caused by a 19-year-old tyre in 2012. Her work with the ‘Tyred’ campaign led to the consultation being launched.

Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said, “Our priority is keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to reduce the number of people killed or injured. There is increasing evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.”

Click here to take part in the consultation.