New research published for Tyre Safety Month 2026 has revealed a concerning gap between drivers’ confidence in an emergency and their preparation for one.
TyreSafe found that 42% of drivers believe they are better than average at handling emergencies, rising to 51% among male drivers. However, one in ten drivers has never checked their tyres.
The findings form part of this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign, Act Before You REact, which encourages road users to prepare for unexpected situations by checking their tyres regularly.
Skill does not override physics
Driving experience and vehicle control are important, but they cannot compensate for tyres that are damaged, worn or incorrectly inflated.
Tyres are the vehicle’s only point of contact with the road and play a critical role in braking, steering and stability. Their condition becomes particularly important during heavy rain, sudden braking or an emergency manoeuvre.
TyreSafe’s wider campaign research also found that 83% of drivers believe they are in full control of stopping distance, yet only 6% could correctly identify the stopping distance required in wet conditions at motorway speeds.
The campaign’s central message is clear: confidence is not a safety strategy. Preparation is.
Act before you REact
TyreSafe is asking drivers to remember three simple checks through its ACT message:
- Air pressure – Check tyre pressures at least once a month and before long journeys, using the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended figures.
- Condition – Look for cuts, cracks, bulges and objects embedded in the tyre. Any suspected damage should be examined by a qualified tyre professional.
- Tread – Check there is sufficient tread across each tyre. For passenger cars in the UK, the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference.
These checks take only a few minutes but can make a significant difference to how safely a vehicle responds when something unexpected happens.
Building tyre safety into driver education
DIA and TyreSafe are working together on initiatives intended to help trainers and pupils develop stronger tyre safety knowledge and better everyday practice.
DIA is already recognised as one of TyreSafe’s national road-safety partners, helping the charity tailor its education and campaign messages for young and new drivers.
This work builds on previous young-driver campaigns supported by DIA, including resources for instructors, learners, parents, schools and road-safety organisations. These have included posters, videos, practical guidance and social-media materials designed to make tyre maintenance easier to understand and teach.
Further collaborative activity is being developed to support trainers in embedding tyre checks into learning, rather than treating them simply as questions to prepare for on the driving test.
Carly Brookfield, DIA Chief Executive, said: “Driver and rider trainers are in a unique position to turn tyre safety knowledge into habits that can stay with somebody throughout their driving life.
“Knowing how to answer a vehicle safety question is only the starting point. Learners need opportunities to check pressures, identify damage and understand tread depth for themselves, so they leave training confident in carrying out these checks independently.
“DIA and TyreSafe are working on a number of initiatives to help trainers and pupils strengthen that knowledge and make tyre safety a routine part of responsible vehicle use.”
Trainers can support the campaign by demonstrating ACT checks during lessons, asking pupils to locate their vehicle’s recommended tyre pressures and encouraging them to establish a monthly checking routine.
Tyre Safety Month runs throughout October. Campaign information and free resources are available from TyreSafe.
