The Alliance on Winter Tyres: The world's gone MAD

Philip Hammond dropped a clanger on Winter Tyres

The Alliance on Winter Tyres has been formed to look in to the issue of winter tyres in the UK. What a waste of money. Just advise everyone to fit them.

We’ve banged on about Winter tyres to anyone who’ll listen – and those that won’t – for longer than we care to remember. And we’ll continue to do so.

Winter tyres can offer better grip in crappy conditions than driving an SUV. And really, although you have to have an extra set of tyres, unless you change your car every year it’s almost a no cost option.

Which is why we were horrified when Transport Minister Philip Hammond told Parliament last year that Winter tyres were unsuitable for UK roads.

We assumed he was just badly advised, rather than daft. And he did subsequently retract his statement saying he’d mixed up Winter tyres with studded tyres. Yes, Philip. Of course you did.

But instead of simply coming out with the obvious statement – Fit Winter tyres and be safer – the Government, or at least the Government in Scotland, has formed the ‘Alliance on Winter Tyres’ to:

“…share experiences and best practice and examine new ways of ensuring every reasonable step is taken to allow individuals and businesses to make informed choices about all the options available to them to continue safe, reliable journeys in severe weather conditions, including the use of winter tyres”

That is the brief. I kid you not. They go on to say that

“…the alliance will consider issues of supply and demand for winter tyres and how to promote information to make informed choices on their fitting.”

To top that, they’ve invited the following to participate in the ‘Alliance on Winter Tyres’:

Association of British Insurers
British Insurance Brokers’ Association
RBS Insurance
Aviva
British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association
Michelin, National Tyre Distribution Association
Kwik Fit
Arnold Clark
Advanced Motoring
RoSPA
Road Haulage Association
Freight Transport Association
Confederation of Passenger Transport

No wonder we’re in the financial mess we are when our politicians spend millions to pontificate on something so clear cut and simple. Just tell motorists:

‘WINTER TYRES MAKE YOU SAFER AND SAVE LIVES – USE THEM FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH’

How hard is that?

Source: The Courier