But that's the job of the road safety pressure group, TyreSafe.
As Christmas looms ahead and the winter months bring more challenging driving conditions like heavy rain, driving at night, sleet, snow, and high winds, TyreSafe is launching the ‘Home Safely for Winter’ campaign.
This new initiative calls on road users to ACT on tyre safety, a small but essential step that could mean the difference between arriving safely at Christmas and facing hazardous incidents on the road.
The campaign will compliment, support and coincide with Brake’s Road Safety Week, which runs from the 17-23 November. The campaign also reinforces the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC)’s initiatives which highlight the additional driving hazards present during the winter months. ‘Operation Dark Night’ and ‘Operation Limit’, running in November and December respectively, demonstrate the additional enforcement resources applied during the winter months to promote safer road use, including vehicle maintenance and driving standards.
An alarming 6.1 million tyres in the UK may already be illegal when a vehicle owner seeks advice on the need for replacement, putting millions at risk.
Tread depth is vital for vehicle braking, handling, and grip—especially during winter, when icy and wet roads significantly increase stopping distances. TyreSafe urges all road users to take a few minutes to check their tyres, ensuring their own and others’ safety. In addition, the AA attends over 620,000 tyre-related breakdowns each year, which, during harsher conditions can present additional hazards and disruptions.
The ‘Home Safely for Winter’ campaign is built around the ACT message, a simple three-step guide to help road users make informed decisions about their tyre safety:
Air Pressure - Proper inflation is essential, as under-inflated tyres reduce fuel efficiency and impair handling, especially on slippery roads.
Condition - Look for cuts, bulges, or other signs of damage that could cause a blowout or loss of control.
Tread - Tread depth should meet the legal minimum of 1.6mm, although deeper tread provides better grip, crucial on winter roads.
"The ‘Home Safely for Winter’ campaign is about encouraging road users to take responsibility for their safety," says Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe's Chairman. “
He went on to say: "When conditions are at their worst, tyre safety becomes even more important. Running concurrently and in support of the NPCC’s winter enforcement road safety initiatives, and Brake’s Road Safety Week, we are urging road users to take a few minutes to ACT- checking air pressure, condition, and tread depth—which can reduce the risk of incidents and ensure everyone can make it home to their loved ones safely."
To support the campaign, TyreSafe provides winter driving advice, from slowing down on icy roads to maintaining greater stopping distances and ensuring visibility by clearing windscreens and checking headlight functionality.
Additionally, having a winter survival kit in case of a breakdown can be invaluable. Essential items include warm clothing, blankets, water, a torch, and de-icer. It is also imperative that vehicle owners ensure their screen wash is topped up to maintain optimum visibility. Failure to maintain adequate washer fluid in a vehicle could result in a careless driving charge, punishable by a minimum £100 fine and 3 penalty points.
Supporters of ‘Home Safely for Winter’ can access a toolkit with resources including social media assets, printable materials, and ongoing tyre care advice, available through TyreSafe’s website. The campaign invites road users and organisations to spread the word by sharing the #HomeSafelyForWinter message, reminding the community that tyre safety only takes a few minutes but can save lives.
The campaign will run through November and December, as road users prepare for and begin to experience the colder months ahead. TyreSafe encourages everyone to join the conversation, helping spread awareness of tyre safety and its life-saving potential.
For more information on the ‘Home Safely for Winter’ campaign, please visit TyreSafe’s website or follow the hashtag #HomeSafelyForWinter.