Over the period 2011-2020, 15 percent of fatal traffic accidents in Finland were attributed to tyre-related defects, according to the latest annual report from the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI).
Around a third of cases involved worn tyres, the report noted, while in about one fifth of accidents the tyres were considered inappropriate for the prevailing weather conditions.
Meanwhile according to a fresh report by the Tyre Specialists of Finland (ARL), more than 350,000 cars in Finland have faulty tyres, but most owners do not recognise the defects.
The report describes these motorists as a "risk group" since their driving habits should take poor tyres into account. For example, the grip of worn tyres decreases greatly in rainy weather, resulting in longer braking distances and an increased risk of accidents.
"If it is raining and you have bad tyres, you should reduce your speed," according to ARL chair Jarmo Nuora.
The report contains the results of ARL's autumn 2021 roadside tyre inspections. The checks were carried out in 19 different locations across Finland and examined the tyres of more than 4,200 cars.
Roadside tyre inspections
This week, ARL, the Finnish Road Safety Council and the Police will organise roadside tyre inspections. They will take place in Helsinki, Pori, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Rovaniemi.
The goal is to remind drivers about the importance of tyre safety, to provide information on checking tyre condition, and to encourage motorists to use tyres that are appropriate for the prevailing weather conditions.
Fewer cars with bad tyres
Over time, there has been significant improvement in tyre conditions on cars in Finland.
According to ARL, 24.4 percent of motorists were driving with bad tyres in 1997. However, cars with subpar tyres accounted for only 8.5 percent of the 2021 sample.
Despite the improvement, Nuora expressed concern over the future due to the global economic situation.
"Will people be forced to save on tyres when there are other compulsory expenses and prices are going up," Nuora asked.