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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that people in general really don't care about road safety?

81 replies

Iqqq · 04/02/2021 08:00

I'm noticing more and more (especially on here), that car owners really don't care about the safety of their vehicle.

Cheap Chinese ditch finder tyres, coupled with unserviced brake systems is a recipe for disaster, yet I know of several people who only buy the cheapest tyres available, and then leave the servicing for the mot tester. A sort of "if it ain't broke, don't touch it" mentality.

Does anybody actually do regular vehicle checks any more, and who else doesn't bother actually having the car serviced, just leaving it for the mot to highlight items to be fixed?

Aibu to think a lot of car owners are either too stupid or just don't care enough about safety to carry out regular safety checks?

OP posts:
Graciebobcat · 04/02/2021 12:51

There is no system to tell you if your tyre is bald - to any car, anywhere

Apart from the system of having regular checks at the garage, where they tell you things like how worn the tyres are long before they would be anywhere near bald.

And the system that knowing if you have put four all weather tyres on that year and hardly driven the car, the tyres are not going to be bald for a very long time yet.

Graciebobcat · 04/02/2021 12:54

The main cause of most RTAs is driver error or inattention

This, plus speeding and aggressive driving. I hope the OP doesn't drive as he/she posts.

rslsys · 04/02/2021 13:08

Lay out 4 sheets of A5 paper, in portrait orientation roughly at the wheel centres of your car (if you have space). Look at what you have created, the paper represents the total contact area between your tyres and the road. This area has to cope with the cornering and breaking stress of around 1 Tonne of car plus it's occupants.
If you have a bigger 4x4, you can substitute A4 for A5, but don't get smug - your vehicle weighs twice as much.

Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 13:09

This, plus speeding and aggressive driving. I hope the OP doesn't drive as he/she posts.

Speeding and aggressive driving are not the main causes of RTAs.

Sometimesonly · 04/02/2021 13:15

Also, I’m amazed at the number of people who only discover their tyres are worn out at MOT or service, this is basic stuff that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Basic stuff if you've been shown by someone. This is like the cooking threads where people just presume everyone knows how to cook. I don't know how to do any of these things except top up water!

Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 13:28

Basic stuff if you've been shown by someone. This is like the cooking threads where people just presume everyone knows how to cook. I don't know how to do any of these things except top up water!

Not really, if your tyres are smooth that’s bad! I joke of course, but the Highway Code tells you about minimum tread depths and tyres have built in wear markers. You can even use a 20p coin if you don’t have a tyre tread depth gauge. It IS really basic stuff that can be found on Google in about 30 seconds, not knowing how to check your tread depth is no excuse whatsoever.

abstractzebra · 04/02/2021 13:34

I can check and fix the basics but I've also noticed that a lot of garages don't really help you to look after your car anymore. Previously, I used to get advice when I took my car in.
The last MOT I had, I had a single failure and the garage couldn't even fix it! They had to return the car unMOTed for me to take it elsewhere!

visitorfromtheplanetzog · 04/02/2021 14:05

Judging by the two maniacs who overtook me on a blind bend in the mist this morning, YANBU.

Graciebobcat · 04/02/2021 14:40

Speeding and aggressive driving are not the main causes of RTAs

Aggressive driving accounts for about a third of the accidents caused by driver error. However it accounts for two thirds of accidents which resulted in a fatality. Keep to the speed limit, drive according to road conditions and drive defensively.

murbblurb · 04/02/2021 14:47

most tyres are made in China, doesn't mean they are 'ditch finders'. People who end up in ditches do so because they are driving badly.

I never get a car serviced unless something needs fixing/changing. I do all the checks myself, I've got eyes and can bend down.

Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 14:56

Aggressive driving accounts for about a third of the accidents caused by driver error. However it accounts for two thirds of accidents which resulted in a fatality.

The stats say differently. Aggressive driving is a contributing factor in just 4% of all RTAs and 8% of fatalities. It just scapes into the top 10 contributing factors of fatal accidents.

Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 15:20

most tyres are made in China, doesn't mean they are 'ditch finders'. People who end up in ditches do so because they are driving badly.

Most quality tyres are not made in China, the junk that comes of China with names you’ve never heard of certainly are ditch finders.

I never get a car serviced unless something needs fixing/changing. I do all the checks myself, I've got eyes and can bend down.

So you never have the oil changed etc?

DynamoKev · 04/02/2021 15:33

@OliviaPopeRules

My car had a warning system when oil etc is low or tyre pressure is off or if the tyre needs to be changed. This has been the case with any car I have bought for the last 15 years and these aren't high end cars. I would imagine the vast majority of cars on the road do this.
My point in quoting this in the first place was this claim - or if the tyre needs to be changed No car in existence has such a system - unless the tyre is so bald it deflates, human inspection is the only way to determine the condition/age of the tyre and therefore whether it needs to be changed. The idea warning lights can and will tell you everything you may need to know is wrong and potentially dangerous.
DynamoKev · 04/02/2021 15:34

@Elai1978

Aggressive driving accounts for about a third of the accidents caused by driver error. However it accounts for two thirds of accidents which resulted in a fatality.

The stats say differently. Aggressive driving is a contributing factor in just 4% of all RTAs and 8% of fatalities. It just scapes into the top 10 contributing factors of fatal accidents.

As a matter of interest - what are the top causes?
Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 16:25

For fatalities the top 3 are failing to look properly, loss of control and driver careless, reckless or in a hurry. Which all make sense really. Exceeding the speed limit is contributory in 15% of fatal accidents which suggests that speed cameras would in fact be better replaced by more traffic cops picking up terrible drivers rather than just people speeding.

Graciebobcat · 04/02/2021 17:00

I guess it depends which stats you are looking at.

mummyof4kids · 04/02/2021 17:15

I check oil, screen wash and tyres myself.
I get it mot'd and serviced every year but warning lights I never ignore.
My engine light came on yesterday, took it in today and it needs a new timing belt and water pump. Could have been disastrous if I'd ignored it

BertieBotts · 04/02/2021 17:28

TBH, I didn't actually know that tyres had different safety ratings, and that would be something I would care about. I can't drive so I let DH sort all that stuff as it's technically his car.

I think this stuff holds true for a lot of things though - for example my area of expertise is car seats, and you'd be surprised (if you don't know) to know how poorly in a crash some of the cheaper or lower quality models perform, yet if you do know, people are often surprised at just how many people are content to opt for the cheapest thing they see in Asda or on OnlineDeals4Baby or whatever.

So I think when you're purchasing any product it is worth considering whether it has a safety function at all, and if it does it's probably worth looking into different models/manufacturers and their reputations, any independent safety tests which have been done, etc.

I think this has got worse since cheaper products from Asia have been more able to enter our markets. It used to be that you could reasonably trust that EU standards and British standards etc were stringent enough to cover the basics and that would give you a good baseline level of safety, but these days it doesn't seem to be enough, and if you're buying directly from abroad online, e.g. Wish, AliExpress, but these days even more "reputable" websites such as Ebay and Amazon as well, then it is even worse, as you can actually end up accidentally bypassing EU trading standards because a lot of these companies are "throwaway" brands who don't bother meeting the standards as it's too expensive to, and it's not beneficial for them to build up a brand reputation, because if they get any complaints they just close down the company and start a new, just as undetectable one. People buy from them because they are the cheapest and the assumption is that if something wasn't safe, it wouldn't be allowed to be sold, but don't realise that companies bypass the safety regulations with this anonymity.

Sillysop92 · 04/02/2021 17:38

I leave it up to my husband. It is so rare for me to open the bonnet that I can never remember where the lever is. I also can’t stand the faff of getting petrol so I leave that to him as well. I occasionally glance at the tyres and mention it to my husband who checks the pressure.

Elai1978 · 04/02/2021 17:53

I guess it depends which stats you are looking at.

The official ones.

QueenPawPaws · 04/02/2021 19:34

@BertieBotts tyres are pretty easy Smile
You have fuel efficiency, wet grip/braking and noise and there's a tyre label like this
Pretty self explanatory from the label, a being the highest rated. People will often ask me for a particular brand because it's a known name and expensive but then looking at the rating it's not always the best tyre. I guess like people will say oh Dyson for my vacuum but then it turns out Miele is the best for them!
I will always tell people the ratings, the price and the brand and not sell them the most expensive because I want them to be confident in their choice and happy with what they choose

To think that people in general really don't care about road safety?
Changi · 04/02/2021 21:20

tyres are pretty easy smile
You have fuel efficiency, wet grip/braking and noise and there's a tyre label like this

It isn't quite that easy. The wet grip rating only rates grip in the wet. To choose a tyre that suits your needs, you need to look for data like this.

To think that people in general really don't care about road safety?
QueenPawPaws · 04/02/2021 21:32

@Changi of course - I was going for simple for people who haven't a clue! Most people just ask for a brand they have heard of and that's it, and don't know ratings even exist

Bluethrough · 04/02/2021 21:45

My car had a warning system when oil etc is low or tyre pressure is off or if the tyre needs to be changed. This has been the case with any car I have bought for the last 15 years and these aren't high end cars. I would imagine the vast majority of cars on the road do this

the air sensor light will come on when the tire is 10psi below the recommended and by the time the oil light comes on, the damage has been done.

My best friend helps run a tyre business, they stopped selling chinese tyres after a child was killed locally when a car failed to stop, not illegal but just maybe with decent tyres on.....

First thing i did when my DD got her first (2nd hand car) car was put 4 new premium branded tyres on it, £60 more for a set than 4 cheap ones, just over a £1 a week..

what price peace of mind?

mouldyhouse101 · 04/02/2021 22:21

Oh what a delight you are OP.

I notice you've learnt how to check tyre pressure, but not to be a nice person.
Priorities and all that