TyreSafe, the UK’s road safety charity dedicated to tyre safety, has joined the newly formed UK Towing Safety Alliance to address the growing need for improved safety practices among those who tow for business or leisure on our roads. Convened by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), the Alliance brings together a wide range of organisations, including the National Caravan Council (NCC), NFU Mutual, Road Safety GB, The Camping and Caravanning Club, Tilly Your Trailer, the British Horse Society (BHS) and The Pony Club, with other organisations set to join, with a shared goal of improving towing safety across the UK.
At the heart of the Alliance’s efforts is the launch of the TLC – Tyres, Load, Connectivity campaign, a new initiative designed to provide drivers with clear, actionable guidance to ensure their trailers are safe before setting off.
TyreSafe’s involvement will focus heavily on the ‘T’ in TLC, highlighting the critical role that tyre maintenance plays in towing safety. Alarming data from the DVSA Light Trailer Compliance Report (2023) revealed that:
84% of running gear defects leading to prohibitions in non-caravan trailers were related to the condition of tyres.
Tyres accounted for 21% of all defects in trailers checked between 2019 and 2021.
Further demonstrating the importance of tyre maintenance, National Highways Control Works data recorded 1,544 tyre-related breakdowns involving towed vehicles in 2024 alone, a 6.8% increase from 2022. Trailers accounted for the highest proportion of these incidents, with a 9% increase in tyre-related breakdowns over the same period.
As part of the UK Towing Safety Alliance, TyreSafe is committed to leveraging its expertise and extensive network to ensure tyre safety remains a top priority in towing safety education. The TLC campaign will serve as an essential platform for TyreSafe to share vital advice with driver and businesses on conducting regular tyre checks, including:
- Checking tyre pressures to ensure they are correctly inflated for the load.
- Inspecting tread depth to ensure it meets the legal minimum and provides sufficient grip.
- Examining tyres for any signs of cracks, bulges, or damage that could lead to failure.
Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, emphasised the importance of tyre safety within the TLC framework, “Tyre-related defects are one of the leading causes of towing-related incidents, and the statistics from both the DVSA and National Highways show that many of these incidents could be prevented with simple, regular tyre checks. Through the UK Towing Safety Alliance and the TLC campaign, TyreSafe is committed to ensuring that drivers understand the critical role tyres play in safe towing. By focusing on tyre safety and providing accessible resources, we can help reduce the number of preventable incidents and make our roads safer for everyone.”
TyreSafe’s contribution to the TLC campaign will include the development of dedicated educational materials, including digital resources, social media campaigns, and information leaflets, all designed to reinforce the importance of regular tyre checks before towing. These materials will be available for Alliance members to share across their networks, ensuring that tyre safety messages reach a wide audience of drivers and towing enthusiasts.
By focusing on the essential elements of Tyres, Load, and Connectivity, the UK Towing Safety Alliance aims to empower drivers and businesses with the knowledge and skills to prevent breakdowns and incidents while towing. TyreSafe’s involvement ensures that tyre safety remains at the forefront of this national effort to improve road safety.
