Drivers are risking fines of £2,500 and three penalty points on their licence by not maintaining their vehicles. The hefty fines could be slapped on those not paying attention to their tyres.
Those taking to Nottinghamshire roads and heading further afield are being warned that knowing how to maintain their car is essential for motoring safety. It can also alleviate any risk of being landed with thousands of pounds worth of fines. The warning comes from car finance firm, CarMoney.
The Highway Codes warns tyres must be correctly inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's specification for the load being carried. Along with checking tyre pressure, drivers must check tread depth. Failure to maintain tyres is not only dangerous but could also be financially costly.
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Andrew Marshall, marketing and partnerships manager at CarMoney, the car finance firm which highlighted the issue, says: "Keeping on top of car maintenance can feel like a chore, but if you don’t take care of issues quickly, they could prove dangerous. Not only will regular services identify potential early issues, but they could also help you save money and avoid costly repairs further down the line. Always seek professional advice for any vehicle problems that may pose a risk to your safety and that of other road users."
In fact, according to the firm, two of the five most Googled car maintenance questions are "How to change tyre pressure" and Knowing how to check tyre tread. Motorists searched for ‘What should my tyre pressure be' 36,000 times per year.
Low tyre pressure is dangerous because it can cause a blowout - which can be fatal at high speeds. Defective tyres could also result in a fine of £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre, so regularly check your tyre pressure and be aware of the optimal pressure for your specific tyre type.
There are 20,400 searches per year for ‘how to check tyre tread’. Driving with tyres that don’t meet the legal standard tread of above 1.6mm can be landed with a fine of £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre. Check your tyre tread with the 20p test - insert a 20p into the groove of the tyre, if the outer rim of the coin is visible, this is a sign that the tread is too low and a new tyre is required.
