The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has spoken of her delight at the Government’s decision to back her calls and the calls of campaigners for a ban on tyres over the age of ten years old from buses, coaches, lorries and mini-buses.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said:
“First of all, I would like to congratulate Frances Molloy and the Tyred campaign for their work in highlighting this key issue, which means so much to people right the way across the country, including in my Eastleigh constituency.
“As many of my constituents will know, in 2012 there was a fatal crash on the A3 in which 3 lives were lost and many others suffered life changing injuries, as a coach returned from the Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight. This crash was later confirmed to have been the result of an almost 20 year old tyre which had blown.
“Having previously worked in road safety, and with this horrific tragedy very much in my mind, I have spoken in debates and raised questions in Parliament, as well as directly with Ministers, calling on the Government to review the age at which a tyre is considered safe.
“Many of us would not think twice about our safety when hopping on a bus, or indeed sending our own children on the coach to school, and in the majority of cases we have no reason to question our safety. This news will mean that in ALL cases we will have no reason to question our safety or that of the ones we love, and I am absolutely delighted by this key step forward.”
The Government will now consult on options to ban tyres over the age of ten years old from buses, coaches, lorries and mini-buses, with a separate consultation regarding tyres over ten years old on taxis and private hire vehicles.