Dumfries and Galloway has Scotland's highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents
Dumfries and Galloway has the highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents in Scotland.
Research by online tyre retailer Blackcircles has revealed the areas with the most road accidents due to defective illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres.
In Dumfries and Galloway, there were 10 between 2019-2023 – a rate of 6.86 per 100,000 people.
And that gives it the highest rate among Scotland's council areas and the fourth highest in the UK.
With Dumfries and Galloway having a population just under 150,000, the number of accidents could be down to number and length of key roads such as the M74, A75 and A77.
The research also revealed the 10 accidents were among 19 collisions where vehicle defects had been found.
And faulty brakes were the leading cause of vehicle collisions across the UK, accounting for nearly two-fifths of accidents.
Blackcircles.com tyre expert, James Harding, is urging drivers to check their tyres before they too have an accident.
He said: 'Tyres are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road, so their condition has a significant impact on your safety.
'Worn, damaged, or underinflated tyres can increase braking distances, reduce grip, and raise the risk of blowouts - especially in poor weather.
'Illegal, defective, or underinflated tyres contribute to hundreds of UK road collisions yearly. They can also result in fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre if found to be below legal standards.'
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