TyreSafe welcomes the news that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) has completed the evaluation of the charity car wash pilot project together with Lancashire FRS and West Yorkshire FRS. This collaboration with TyreSafe has enabled the successful evaluation of these events to demonstrate the value of integrating tyre safety into the wider community safety initiatives. This landmark decision follows the success of a pilot scheme, spearheaded by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in collaboration with TyreSafe and other regional fire services, demonstrating the value of integrating tyre safety into wider community safety initiatives.
The pilot, which ran between March and September 2024, saw free tyre checks conducted at 12 charity car wash events in Cambridgeshire, delivering essential safety assessments to attendees. These checks, carried out by fire service staff responsible for road safety, were further supported by TyreSafe’s partners, including Halfords, Translogik, and Ring Automotive, who provided equipment and professional expertise. The pilot yielded significant insights into tyre safety awareness in the region, where 728 vehicles were inspected. Of the vehicles inspected 12% (88 vehicles) had at least one illegal tyre and 20% (121 vehicles) had at least one unsafe or borderline illegal tyre.
These findings align with wider research supporting the case for greater tyre safety awareness and accessible vehicle checks. Moreover, the pilot demonstrated the fire services’ unique ability to engage the public in a non-threatening environment, making a lasting impact on driver behaviour and safety awareness.
With the pilot now concluded, Cambridgeshire is in discussions with NFCC to include tyre safety inspections into charity car wash events as national policy and to work with local road safety partners to raise awareness of the importance of safe and legal tyres. While TyreSafe’s role transitions from direct partnership to an impartial information resource, the organisation remains committed to supporting local road safety efforts by providing expert guidance and educational materials.
The successful completion of the Charity Car Wash events has been a long time in the planning and TyreSafe thanks those Services that took part in the pilot. Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair said “This project demonstrated the power of collaboration in tackling tyre safety awareness at a community level and demonstrated the urgent need for tyre checks and the publics appreciation of the positive impact of fire service engagement in delivering this message. We are proud to have played a foundational role in this new important project and the development of the new guidance and look forward to continuing to support local services and partners to improve road safety.”
Station Commander Paul Clarke, Road Safety Lead for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said, “TyreSafe’s recognition of the collaborative efforts behind this pilot is greatly appreciated. We are proud to have worked alongside both TyreSafe and other Fire and Rescue Service partners to demonstrate the positive impact of integrating tyre safety into community initiatives such as the car washes. The success of the pilot clearly highlights the need for accessible tyre checks and reinforced the unique role fire and rescue services play in effectively engaging the public with important safety messaging. We look forward to continuing our support for improved road safety, ensuring that more drivers benefit from essential tyre safety advice.”
TyreSafe also recognises the contributions of key individuals who helped shape the pilot, including Kathleen Bowman (formerly of Cambridgeshire FRS) and Claire Burscough (Lancashire FRS), whose dedication was instrumental in the initiative’s success.
