Two Illegal Tyres Could Cost New Drivers Their Licence – TyreSafe Reissues Flagship Young Driver Campaign as National Focus on KSI Reduction Intensifies
Flagship safety drive aligns with the Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign as government raises ambition to significantly reduce KSIs among young and new drivers under its new Road Safety Strategy
TyreSafe, the UK’s only charity dedicated to raising awareness of tyre safety, is re-releasing its flagship Young Driver Campaign this September, warning that just two illegal tyres could cost new
drivers their licence – with even greater urgency this year as national efforts intensify to reduce killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties among young road users.
The refreshed campaign lands at a critical moment following the publication of the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy in January, which sets out significantly more ambitious targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries across the UK. A key focus of the strategy is improving outcomes for young drivers, who remain disproportionately represented in serious collision statistics.
Against this backdrop, TyreSafe’s campaign places tyre condition firmly within the wider national effort to prevent avoidable collisions and reduce KSIs through early intervention and behavioural change.
The campaign coincides with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Operation Spotlight – a nationwide road safety operation targeting young drivers – running from September 22nd to October 5th.
The core message remains simple but critical: driving with unsafe or illegal tyres carries fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre. For new drivers in their first two years on the road, just two illegal tyres – six penalty points – is enough for automatic licence revocation.
The campaign also highlights a persistent knowledge gap revealed in TyreSafe research, which found that over half of UK drivers aged 17–24 (52%) do not realise they are legally responsible for the condition of tyres on any vehicle they drive – even if they do not own it.
By focusing on TyreSafe’s simple but effective ACT message – Air pressure, Condition, Tread – the campaign equips young drivers with practical knowledge to stay safe, legal, and aligned with national efforts to reduce serious collisions.
For the second year, the Young Driver Campaign runs in formal alignment with the Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign, providing a significantly expanded platform to reach young drivers. The campaign is also supported by key road safety stakeholders including the DVSA, RED Driver Training, The Motor Schools’ Association of Great Britain, The Driving Instructors’ Association, Ready to Pass?, Fresh Drivers UK, First Car, Intelligent Instructor and the ADI National Joint Council. Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Young and new drivers remain one of the highest-risk groups on UK roads, not only due to inexperience, but also because of the tighter restrictions placed on their licence.
With the Government now setting out more ambitious targets to reduce killed and seriously injured casualties—particularly among young people—there is an even greater responsibility on all road safety partners to focus on educating young road users to be compliant and make them aware of the serious consequences if they aren’t.
Tyres are one of the most critical safety factors on any vehicle, and young and new drivers have the responsibility to ensure that they are driving on safe, legal and compliant tyres. The repercussions, if they don’t, can be extremely punitive when it comes to penalty points, financial penalties and operating costs.
Working alongside Operation Spotlight and in support of THINK!, this campaign ensures we can reach more young drivers than ever with advice that can directly reduce their risk of collisions, penalties, and licence loss.”
The campaign will run across TyreSafe’s social media channels and website, supported by videos, infographics, and step-by-step guides. Police forces, driving instructors, schools, colleges, and road safety partnerships are encouraged to share resources and support engagement with young drivers in their communities.
TyreSafe