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eTyres PRESS RELEASE.
Unrestricted distribution if attributed © 2007 etyres.co.uk
Floods bring danger warnings over Britain's
badly maintained roads
24 July 2007 - Years of chronic under-investment in
roads maintenance will add yet more problems for flooded
parts of the country - as the roads dry out, many road
surfaces will become death traps, according to a leading
tyre expert.
"The Government’s own figures show that one in three
roads in Metropolitan areas already have inadequate
skidding resistance. In London it's one in two. This
latest water damage will make an already appalling
problem even worse," says Tony Bowman, MD of etyres.
"Failing to maintain roads properly is inexcusable as
almost a half of all cars are being driven with
under-inflated tyres, affecting handling and stopping
distances. Motorists don’t seem to recognise that in wet
weather, stopping distances are twice that for dry,
nearer three times more for badly maintained roads,"
says Bowman.
Bowman points out a sobering fact - one in eight drivers
is risking tyre failure from stress and heat build-up
from sidewall bending from under-inflation, which he
blames largely on inaccurate forecourt air gauges.
Bowman’s advice is to invest in a decent pressure gauge
and to check each wheel every two weeks, especially
during the current danger time. "44% of cars are losing
21% of tyre life due to unnecessary wear, so if you want
a motivation, think of it this way – the combined affect
of higher rolling resistance on fuel consumption and
shorter tyre life would be costing you £63 a year."
"Save that money and you might also potentially save a
life," adds Bowman.
ENDS
24 July 2007
Notes to Editors
1 The most recent National Roads Maintenance Condition
Survey, just published by the Department for Transport,
shows that almost one in three major roads in
Metropolitan Authorities requires remedial work to
improve skidding resistance; in London, the figure is an
incredible one in two.
2 Based on 2005 tyre-check data, Bridgestone’s European
Technical Centre has calculated that 44% of motorists at
risk are losing 20.7% of tyre wear life – an average of
10.000 km or 9 months of tyre use (based on an average
wear life of 50.000 km and annual mileage of 13.600 km).
3 The AA has found that 40% of air pressure gauges in
filling stations and garages are inaccurate.
4 etyres is Britain’s leading online tyre retailer –
technical information on tyre construction, tyre
regulations and etyre’s environmental commitments can be
found at www.etyres.co.uk.
5 etyres is the most ethical UK tyre supplier, offering
customers the lowest prices, a free mobile fitting
service and free puncture repairs.
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