LTB 053/2021 – Royal Mail Fleet Safety Notification (Red TSB -Technical Service Bulletin) – New HGV Tyre Legislation Banning the Use of Tyres Over 10 Years Old (Applicable to All HGVs, Trailers, Coaches and Minibuses)
No. 053/2021
11 February 2021
Our Ref: V4/21
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Fleet Safety Notification (Red TSB -Technical Service Bulletin) – New HGV Tyre Legislation Banning the Use of Tyres Over 10 Years Old (Applicable to All HGVs, Trailers, Coaches and Minibuses):
See attached for your information and attention ‘Red, Safety TSB’ No 02/21 issued by Royal Mail Fleet.
New Law
From 1 February 2021 new legislation came into place banning the use of tyres over 10 years old.
Tyres fitted to ‘Steer’ Axles on all HGVs over 3.5 tonne, Buses, Coaches and all single wheels on minibuses (9-16 seats) must be less than 10 years old.
If fitted they will lead to MOT FAILURE or at roadside check an immediate S marked PROHIBITION NOTICE.
Fleet Workshops Fix
All vehicles in scope being presented for MOT MUST have compliant tyres. The date of manufacture is normally stamped on one side of the tyre. When completing the vehicle tyre inspection, Fleet Workshop staff will be checking the size, rating and date and highlighting the tyre markings with a yellow crayon (this will show it’s been checked).
Fleet Workshops Action
From January Fleet Workshops will check the manufacture date on ALL HGV tyres to ensure legal and safety compliance and the date of the tyre will be entered on the vehicle inspection sheet.
If the date is not legible on an HGV steer axle the tyre MUST be replaced. If the date is not legible due to be being twinned on a drive axle, then a note must be made on the inspection sheet that it cannot be checked.
These checks will also take place and be recorded for trailers, although they are not in scope to receive a MOT or roadside prohibition but may incur an advisory notice.
This TSB, and guide video are available on the SharePoint site link: TSB 02 21 and Video
Useful References: – Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, HGV Tester’s Manual and Categorisation of Defects.
An update of the RM Fleet Tyre Policy will also be completed and published in due course.
HGV Drivers & Tyre Safety Campaign
HGV Drivers will also now need to check the tyre side wall date markings on their vehicle/trailer pre-use checks.
A year ago, last February we ran a joint ‘Tyre Safety’ campaign for Road Safety Week – See LTB No. 078/2020.
The campaign concentrated on key messages to drivers and managers with the emphasis on how important it is for drivers to ensure that vehicles are safe to drive by checking the tyres before commencing their driving work duties. The Tyre Safety campaign covered routine tyre safety checks and maintenance: air pressure; condition; and tread depth, encouraging drivers to check their tyres before commencing their driving duty as part of their pre-use checks and checking the tyre age marking now becomes part of that.
Things To Check:
- Tyre age markings on the side walls.
- Air pressure is at the recommended setting.
- Condition: lumps or bulges, cuts and cracks may mean the tyre may need replacing.
- Tread depth: should be checked to ensure it is above the minimum limit.
Some Tyre Facts:
- 40% of fatal or serious RTCs are caused by defective tyres.
- During 2019/2020 Royal Mail breakdown providers removed over 1,700 illegal tyres from Royal Mail and Parcelforce vehicles.
- The tyres were either worn out, damaged or under/over-inflated and dangerous.
- Apart from the danger driving with illegal tyres is a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre if caught.
Attachment:
- ‘Red, Safety TSB’ No 02/21
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer