Notice of Motion by Councillor Dave Hanratty to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority  

Coach Safety & Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority attends on average 542 Road Traffic Accidents each year, some of these accidents could be prevented through improved design technology or indeed highway works, driver awareness, increased training for younger drivers all of which the Fire Service actively promote in order to reduce Road Traffic accidents and Death on our roads.

However. on Monday 10th September 2012 a coach bound for Liverpool carrying 53 people travelling back from the music festival on the Isle of Wight, left the road and crashed into a tree instantly killing Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and the coach driver, Colin Daulby (63). Other passengers suffered serious life changing injuries for instance Zach Washington-Young aged just 22 at the time, had just completed a law degree but suffered spinal injuries which necessitated him being airlifted to hospital and is still receiving intensive treatment and will do for many years to come.

The cause of this tragic and fatal Road Traffic Accident was subsequently discovered that the front nearside tyre which was actually older than the coach itself at 19 years, which was responsible for the crash. The coach operator were fined just £4000, not for the state of that particular tyre but for another old tyre on the rear of the vehicle which was exhibiting wear and tear below the legal requirements for tread depth. The Coach company had their licence to practice revoked.

Unbelievably there is no law in the UK that governs the age of tyres used on either commercial or domestic vehicles despite the fact that a rubber tyre will show serious deterioration after only five years even if no wear and tears shows on the exterior of the tyre. Deterioration of a tyre commences from the date of manufacture whether it is fitted to a vehicle or not.

Frances Molloy, Michael's mother is leading a campaign for a change in UK law to ban the use of tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles. This change in law is being supported by her MP, Maria Eagle and Shadow Transport Minister, Mary Creagh, but to date, despite a meeting with Transport Minister, Patrick McLoughlin MP, and a vague promise to look at further research, the Government will not commit to a change in the law.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority therefore agrees to write to the Prime Minister, Fire Minister Brandon Lewis MP, the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Local Government Association Fire Service Management Committee urging the Government take urgent action in addressing this issue and to legislate in order to introduce safeguards so that coaches are operated safely, in that tyres older than six years cannot be used on commercial vehicles therefore going someway in preventing such fatal accidents in the future. Furthermore Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority also resolves to support this campaign until such change in the law is achieved.

Members considered the Motion, put forward by the Chair of the Authority – Cllr Dave Hanratty, concerning Coach Safety and The Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority attends on average 542 Road Traffic Accidents each year, some of these accidents could be prevented through improved design technology or indeed highway works, driver awareness, increased training for younger drivers all of which the Fire Service actively promote in order to reduce Road Traffic accidents and Death on our roads.

However on Monday 10th September 2012 a coach bound for Liverpool carrying 53 people travelling back from the music festival on the Isle of Wight, left the road and crashed into a tree instantly killing Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and the coach driver, Colin Daulby (63). Other passengers suffered serious life changing injuries for instance Zach Washington-Young aged just 22 at the time, had just completed a law degree but suffered spinal injuries which necessitated him being airlifted to hospital and is still receiving intensive treatment and will do for many years to come.

The cause of this tragic and fatal Road Traffic Accident was subsequently discovered that the front nearside tyre which was actually older than the coach itself at 19 years, which was responsible for the crash. The coach operator were fined just £4000, not for the state of that particular tyre but for another old tyre on the rear of the vehicle which was exhibiting wear and tear below the legal requirements for tread depth. The Coach company had their licence to practice revoked.

Unbelievably there is no law in the UK that governs the age of tyres used on either commercial or domestic vehicles despite the fact that a rubber tyre will show serious deterioration after only five years even if no wear and tears shows on the exterior of the tyre. Deterioration of a tyre commences from the date of manufacture whether it is fitted to a vehicle or not.

Frances Molloy, Michael's mother is leading a campaign for a change in UK law to ban the use of tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles. This change in law is being supported by her MP, Maria Eagle and Shadow Transport Minister, Mary Creagh, but to date, despite a meeting with Transport Minister, Patrick McLoughlin MP, and a vague promise to look at further research, the Government will not commit to a change in the law.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority therefore agrees to write to the Prime Minister, Fire Minister Brandon Lewis MP, the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Local Government Association Fire Service Management Committee urging the Government take urgent action in addressing this issue and to legislate in order to introduce safeguards so that coaches are operated safely, in that tyres older than six years cannot be used on commercial vehicles therefore going someway in preventing such fatal accidents in the future. Furthermore Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority also resolves to support this campaign until such change in the law is achieved.

The Chair advised of an amendment to the Motion, to include that the Chair write to Beverley Bell the senior traffic commissioner who’s role covers Heavy Goods Vehicle / Passenger Service Vehicle (HGV/PSV) standards, and to

the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in addition to the Prime Minister, Fire Minister Brandon Lewis MP, the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Local Government Association Fire Service Management Committee.

The Motion and addition to the motion, was seconded by Cllr Mahon; and the motion, including the addition above was agreed unanimously by Members.

Members aired their views in relation to the tragic incident which had triggered this campaign, and offered support.

Resolved that:

a)    Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority write to the Prime Minister, Fire Minister Brandon Lewis MP, the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Local Government Association Fire Service Management Committee urging the Government take urgent action in addressing this issue and to legislate in order to introduce safeguards so that coaches are operated safely, in that tyres older than six years cannot be used on commercial vehicles therefore going someway in preventing such fatal accidents in the future;

b)    In addition to a) the Chair of the Authority write to Beverley Bell the senior traffic commissioner who’s role covers Heavy Goods Vehicle / Passenger Service Vehicle (HGV/PSV) standards, and to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA);

c)    Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority support of the campaign for a change in UK law to ban the use of tyres older than six years on commercial vehicles, until such change in the law is achieved.