Strathclyde Tyres Blog

Four in ten motorists say they will use the car less in 2012 if the costs associated with driving continue to rise, according to AXA's motoring census of 2011. One in 13 say that they have already been forced to stop.

Almost half (44%) admit they enjoy driving less than they used to, largely down to the cost (68%). This is striking in comparison to 2010 figures, when cost clearly had less impact on motorists' habits (just 38% admitted they enjoyed driving less than they used to, and 38% blamed the cost).

Motorists in the UK will spend 58 working weeks, or more than a year, of their lives not moving in traffic on their daily commute, according to a new study by Continental Tyres.

This adds up to over 100 million lost working days every year for the more than 18 million workers who commute by car.

A new survey has found that drivers are not taking basic precautions to help them cope with bad weather, despite falling temperatures and the onset of wintry conditions.

The poll carried out for Garmin, the sat nav manufacturer, found that an overwhelming number of young drivers (18 – 24 year-olds) said they’re not prepared for winter driving (57%) despite planning to cover the most miles over the Christmas period visiting friends and family. The rest of the population fared a little better, but overall just over one third of motorists still confessed to being ill-prepared (34%).

One in seven (14.6%) of British motorists say that they will not replace the tyres on their cars until they fail an MOT or are flagged as illegal by a garage during a service, according to a new survey by VanRental.co.uk.

A further 47.8% use their car's tyres right down to the legal limit of 1.6mm before they replace them, ignoring tyre safety advice, which shows that braking distances increase steadily once tread depth gets below 3mm.

Drivers in Scotland are more likely to have bought winter tyres this year than drivers elsewhere in the UK. According to new AA Populus Poll figures, 11% of drivers in Scotland have purchased winter tyres, with eight percent of North East drivers following suit.

The study, which polled 18,183 AA members, found that overall four percent of drivers have bought winter tyres, up from three percent of drivers last year.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has clarified the position with regard to insurance and winter tyres.

Until now there has been some uncertainty as to the implications for insurance purposes of fitting winter tyres to a car. Each insurer has had its own take on the matter.

Motorists are being urged to consider using winter tyres on their vehicles as forecasters warn winter weather is finally on its way.

As well as checking on anti-freeze levels and stocking up on de-icer, motorists should seriously consider investing in winter tyres for their vehicles as they brace themselves for the seasonal chill, the UK’s largest insurer, Aviva, advises.

Government statistics show that almost 600 accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGV) in Great Britain last year were due to snow or ice, according to tyre manufacturer Michelin.

A total of 338 rigid HGV accidents were attributed to snow or ice on the roads, while 230 articulated HGVs were involved in accidents under similar conditions.

Road safety charity the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is warning that many of Britain’s roads will become more hazardous for motorists as the frosts and local council cuts bite.

In spite of the last two winters of severe cold, snow and ice, many councils are planning to cut back on winter road services, including salting, exposing motorists to dangerous driving conditions. Last year there was a 37% increase in the number of cars overturning in snow and ice, according to Department for Transport figures.