No 'silver bullet' technology for tyre safety: holistic approach needed

Overall vehicle safety comes in many forms. Everything from the basic seat belt and the strength of the body panels to autonomous emergency braking and lane departure assist contribute to keep occupants safe. Tyre safety also plays a major role in road casualties. In fact, in the UK tyre-related incidents were behind more casualties than driver distraction caused by mobile phones last year. "Tyre safety is often taken for granted," observed Stuart Jackson, Chairman of TyreSafe. The UK company has been monitoring the number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents since it was formed in 2006. During the past decade, the number of casualties from such incidents has dropped by a notable 46%. "The fall in numbers is fair reflection of the general trend, which is only interrupted by occasionally worse results in individual years," Jackson told Automotive World. On the whole, tyre performance remains largely determined by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data to suggest whether certain tyre designs or brands are linked to more frequent road incidents. What does make a big difference in maintenance - poor tyre maintenance is the major cause of most incidents. While TyreSafe is a UK tyre safety awareness charity, Tyre Aware launched recently as a Pan-European campaign by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association. Both are geared at raising awareness of the role that drivers need to play when it comes to maintaining tyre safety. Tread depth is a common problem, and the UK imposes a maximum fine of £2,500 (3,200) for drivers caught with tyres below 1.6mm tread depth. Underinflation and poor condition are equally significant contributors. "Drivers all too often overlook how significant these latter factors are, and will either ignore bulges, cracks and cuts in their tyres or not notice them as they don’t carry out regular checks," Jackson added. Technological advances are making a big difference to tyre safety. "Modern tyres are so much more technologically advanced than those even a decade or two ago," he observed. This comes from a combination of design and components. Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), for example, have been shown to increase driver awareness of underinflated tyres. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that TPMS can reduce the chances of driving with underinflated tyres by 55%. Legislation for TPMS arrived first in the US, followed by Europe, where it was phased in for passenger cars between the 2012 and 2014. It is now due to be updated to include more van category vehicles. Korea and Taiwan have also introduced mandates. However, it's a holistic approach that is needed. "No one technology can ever be the ‘silver bullet’ for tyre safety. Ultimately, tyres will always be unique in being in direct physical contact with the roads and all the potential hazards on them," Jackson noted. "The only means to ensure they are roadworthy condition is to carry out regular maintenance checks." It's not just technology at work on tyres but also vehicle use. The rise of shared mobility could result in some confusion over maintenance responsibilities. "The driver is always responsible for the roadworthiness of the vehicle in the first instance. However, we know that when a vehicle is shared, it’s easy for routine checks to be overlooked as one driver hands over to another," Jackson conceded. "If more vehicles are shared by drivers, it’s reasonable to assume the risk of these checks not being carried out will increase unless driver behaviour changes." The rise of highly automated and autonomous vehicles could dramatically change things. "Responsibility is shifting from the driver to the car," commented Peter Mackel, Director of Global Business Development at Schrader, a brand of Sensata Technologies. "It is no longer good enough for a driver to take care of his own tyres if the car is going to drive itself." Mackel's view of intelligent tyres can be explored fully in Automotive World's Special report: Developments in vehicle tyres.

No ‘silver bullet’ technology for tyre safety: holistic approach needed

UK tyre-related incidents were behind more casualties than driver distraction from mobile phones last year, writes Megan Lampinen

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