The Department for Transport (DfT) banned truck tyres over 10 years old with effect from 1 February 2021. Now, in Northern Ireland, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) are ‘seeking views on proposals with a view to introducing similar legislation in the North of Ireland’. Specifically, DfI has invited relevant stakeholders and the public to respond to this consultation.
The scope of the consultation covers ‘heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses’ and ‘does not include private cars’. It is aimed at owners and operators of those vehicles as well as those involved in the ‘manufacture, provision and/or maintenance of tyres for these vehicle types’.
NB – it includes the front axles of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches and on all axles of minibuses when fitted in single configuration.
Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd commented on the consultation:
“In recent years the safety of older tyres on heavy vehicles has become a matter of increasing concern. There have been a number of very serious road traffic collisions involving coaches and trucks, some with tragic consequences where the accident investigator or a Coroner concluded that the tyre failure was as a direct result of its age.”
Minister O’Dowd continued: “I believe there is no compromise on the issue of road safety and I want my Department to be proactive where it can be. This consultation document seeks your views on proposals to introduce legislation making it an offence to use tyres 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles and larger vehicles used to transport passengers.”
Minister O’Dowd concluded: “I would welcome your feedback on this important road safety issue and I would encourage all of those with a vested interest to complete the consultation.”
The consultation opened on 24 October 2022 and closes at 23.59 on 18 December 2022. So, hurry if you’d like to provide your thoughts. Click here to access the public consultation.