Cover news
10/10/2011
Insufficient tread depth on tyres could affect insurance
Motorists on UK roads should be more aware of issues concerning car maintenance, but, reportedly, one of the biggest problems is dealing with bald tyres – which could have serious consequences for those looking for the cheapest car insurance deal.
Many road users claim to know little or nothing on the subject of car maintenance and a recent survey carried out by a car insurance comparison website found that 60% of drivers do not even know the legal tread depth of their tyres.
The penalty for being caught driving with a single tyre that is below the required tread depth of 1.6mm, can be very severe. A fine of £2,500 can be administered as well as three points being added onto a motorist's licence.
If every tyre on the car is deemed to be unacceptable then the fine could increase to as much as £10,000, not to mention the penalty points being increased.
Safety experts say that public ignorance of the state of their vehicle's tyres needs to stop, not only so that drivers can avoid these massive fines but also for their own safety and the safety of other drivers on the roads.
Another issue which could arise for motorists is the risk that their insurance provider will not cover them if an accident occurs due to faulty tyres.
If the accident could have been prevented by having a better grip on the road, the chances are that the accident will not be covered. This will be the case for people who received a cheap car insurance deal, as well as for drivers who are paying more for their cover.
To ensure that road users keep the cheapest car insurance deal possible the 20p trick is recommended. Place a 20p coin into the tyre tread, if the rim of the coin is covered that means the tyres are safe for use on UK roads.