Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what statistics they have about tyre "blow-outs" or other tyre incidents occurring on the strategic road network to inform their policy about the maximum safe life of heavy goods vehicle and coach tyres.

Neither Highways England, nor the Department, holds the statistics requested. The Department recently launched a consultation on proposals to ban tyres aged 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, buses, coaches and minibuses. I encourage all interested parties to provide feedback on the consultation.

Expert opinion from the Coroner’s inquests into two fatal road collisions and independent research commissioned by the Department provided evidence to support our proposals. The proposals in the consultation builds on existing roadworthiness guidance that advises against the use of tyres older than ten years on buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles, except on a rear axle as part of a twin wheel arrangement.