Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is supporting October’s tyre safety month, TyreSafe has launched a potentially life-saving pledge on its Facebook page – www.facebook.com/tyresafeuk – that is designed to help keep drivers safe on the roads this winter.

Visitors to the site will be asked to commit to taking ‘the 20p pledge’ which means they agree to check their tyre tread depth using a 20p coin within the next seven days. After taking the pledge, their commitment will then be shared with their Facebook friends asking them to do similar.

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “The 20p pledge is a great way for drivers to check their tread depth and ensure that they are safe and legal as we head towards the wettest months of the year.

“Adequate tread is essential in providing better grip and shorter stopping distances in the wet, as well as helping to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. Those taking the pledge are demonstrating their commitment to safer driving which hopefully might help reduce the number of tyre related accidents on our roads.”

Sufficient tread depth is critical to safe motoring. The tread grooves are carefully designed to remove water from the road surface and keep the tyre in contact with the road. If the tread grooves are not deep enough, water cannot be moved resulting in a loss of grip and traction which can lead to longer stopping distances, reduced handling and an increased likelihood of aquaplaning.

But the good news is that the 20p test is quick and easy to perform. A 20p coin is simply inserted into the main grooves of the tyre to check the tread depth. If the outer band of the coin is visible when inserted, then the tyre may not have sufficient depth and should be checked by a qualified specialist.

“Although the 20p test is incredibly quick and easy to carry out, we’ve also added a short animation to show how it’s done. It’s available to watch on Youtube , so there’s every opportunity to get involved and do the test,” added Jackson.