Fitting part-worn tyres is an issue that affects every single road user, because while you might not buy potentially dodgy used tyres, your day could be negatively impacted by someone else who has.
That’s why we want ministers to beef up regulations around the standards expected of part-worn tyre retailers, through an officially backed accreditation scheme for retailers. This would offer consumers a level of quality and service that’s all-too-often missing in the market today, and while it would potentially increase costs to customers a little, it would also greatly improve peace of mind.
Are part-worn tyres safe? Exclusive investigation, test and buying advice
Second, we want to see much more proactive intervention from the authorities to prevent offenders ignoring regulations. That means increased monitoring and oversight, and stiffer penalties to clamp down on those who continue to put lives at risk.
Currently, enforcement for part-worn tyre retailers lies in the hands of local authority-funded Trading Standards departments. Cuts to resources mean it’s hard to blame them for our failure to get to grips with an issue that continues to escalate, but a national problem requires a national solution. We propose a greater role for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) under the auspices of the Department for Transport – perhaps an extension of its work ensuring compliance among MoT testing stations, with extra funding.
