Irish drivers are being advised that neglecting your tyres could lead to your motor insurance being invalidated. This is because all motor insurance policies have a clause that requires insured drivers to maintain their vehicle in a roadworthy condition at all times.
If, following a road accident, the roadworthiness of the car is deemed to be the major contributory factor to causing the accident, the insurance company can claim that the failure to properly keep up the maintenance of the vehicle renders the policy invalid.
Contributory causes to an accident could include a range of factors, including driver inattention, inappropriate speed for the road and conditions or a mechanical issue such as the roadworthiness of the vehicles involved.
The most common mechanical issues that are listed as contributory factors in accidents would be tyres and brakes. The ‘roadworthiness’ clause in motor insurance policies obliges drivers to ensure their vehicle is fit for the road, including such crucial technical elements as tyres and brake function.
Independent motor engineer and insurance assessor, David Geary, said: “I know of several cases where an insurance company has invalidated a policy because a vehicle that was involved in an accident was not maintained correctly.”
Tom Dennigan, Head of Continental Tyres Ireland, said that apart from the important safety implications of not looking after your tyres, “there is the added risk of your motor insurance being declared null and void if defective tyres are the reason for your vehicle being involved in an accident”.
