Tyre safety drive welcomed

METRO mayor Steve Rotheram has praised the announcement from Merseytravel that all bus services across the Liverpool City Region which includes Halton are now operating safe-tyre policies under the proposed age limit.

All operators of commercial services, large and small, and also those running supported services on behalf of Merseytravel, have committed to tyres on their vehicles being no older than 10 years old.

It follows a campaign led by Frances Molloy, whose son Michael died in 2012 after the coach he was on crashed when travelling back from a music festival, calling for a ban on the use of tyres older than 10 years on buses, coaches and minibuses.

A spokesman for Mr Rotheram said the Department Of Transport has since failed to change the legislation and instead chose to simply amend guidelines which only recommend, but crucially do not require, that tyres over 10 years should not be fitted.

Mr Rotheram said: “Thanks to the collective commitment of Merseytravel and local bus operators, big and small, to embrace the best practice developed since the tragic accident, all are now operating safe tyre policies under the proposed age limit.

“To me, this is a simple step to prevent future tragedies and the positive actions of our operators show that it’s achievable.

“Merseyside has set an example by putting the safety of its passengers first; the rest of the country must now follow.”

Maria Eagle MP, who will be spearheading the Westminster campaign to see the Government enforce their own guidance on tyre safety, added: “This announcement from Merseytravel is a huge step forward for the Tyred campaign and is testament to the hard work and dedication of my constituent Frances Malloy.

“Merseyside is leading the way on banning unsafe old tyres – now we just have to persuade the Government to take action across the country.”