Danger of old tyres - accident inquest report

Jeremy · February 28, 2019, 09:45:06 AM

The danger of using old tyres on our buses, especially on the front axle, has been discussed many times before but just to highlight the risks again here is a news report that I've just seen on the BBC website about the subject. It relates to a horsebox (ie. private truck conversion), which is about the nearest thing to a bus conversion that you commonly get here:

M5 crash that killed five 'unavoidable', inquest hears

A motorway crash in which five people died could not have been "reasonably" avoided, an inquest has heard.

The driver of the converted horsebox that veered off course after a blowout could not have done anything differently, an investigator said.

Avon Coroner's Court heard there was no legislation requiring a tyre to be replaced at a certain age and its poor condition would not have been obvious.

Richard and Elaine Evans, Audrey Hodge and Adrian Beaumont died at the scene.

Mr Beaumont's partner, Rebecca Mitchell, died in hospital seven months later

The crash happened on 16 September 2017, when a tyre blowout caused the adapted Mercedes 1820 box van, driven by Michael Bakewell, to steer to the right and crash through the central reservation barrier.

He collided with two cars travelling in the opposite direction between junctions 14 near Falfield and 15 near Almondsbury.

Forensic collision investigator PC Sharon Little told the inquest the vehicle was "found to have no significant defects before the collision that could have been considered dangerous".

She said: "The great age of the tyres were a significant factor in how the tyre burst. There was nothing readily apparent that the tyre was close to bursting.

"It was not possible for Mr Bakewell to realise there was a problem that day. Mr Bakewell could not have done anything to avoid the tyre blowout or the steering."

She added that there was nothing the drivers of the other two cars could have done to avoid the collision, which was timed at less than a second after the van went through the metal barrier.

PC Little said the Subaru Forester, carrying driver Richard Evans, 66, his wife, Elaine Evans, 62, and her mother, Audrey Hodge, 84, was "torn apart" and left "almost unrecognisable" following the collision.

She said the Seat Leon carrying Adrian Beaumont, 46, his partner, Rebecca Mitchell, 42, and their 12 year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, from Bristol, was forced off the road by the van and overturned down an embankment.

Mr Beaumont died at the scene, while Ms Mitchell suffered serious brain injuries and died at Southmead Hospital seven months later. Their children are still recovering from their injuries.

The inquest continues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-47403571

Jeremy

(Image below is just to give an idea of the size of a Merc 1820 horsebox - it's not the actual vehicle involved in this accident)

windtrader · February 28, 2019, 11:01:21 AM

How old?

Here's the reference to the age of the tyres.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-47387676

chessie4905 · February 28, 2019, 12:10:19 PM

Tire failure aside, I wonder how fast he was driving on that road?

Jeremy · February 28, 2019, 12:33:40 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on February 28, 2019, 12:10:19 PM
Tire failure aside, I wonder how fast he was driving on that road?

A truck that size will (I think, although horses are heavy) be designed to fit within the 7.5 ton classification, which means that it can be driven on a standard car driving licence and at up to 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways. If it was more than 7.5 ton (or was articulated) then the max. legal speed would be 60mph

Jeremy

Oonrahnjay · March 07, 2019, 07:57:51 AM

Front tire (tyre). I'm guessing it totally exploded but I've seen the Michelin videos showing that braking will increase the out-of-control factor while pressing the accelerator until the vehicle is stable will allow the driver to stop the vehicle safely. If the tire exploded and completely shredded, maybe there's nothing that could have been done, but maybe if the deflation was gentler, good training might have made a difference.
It's impossible to really know, of course.

Geoff · March 07, 2019, 12:05:59 PM

A few years ago, it was recommended by the tire manufacturers to put the best tires on the front of the vehicle, then in the past few years they reversed themselves and are now telling people to but the best tires on the back. Illogical to me, so I still put the best tires on the front.

chessie4905 · March 07, 2019, 02:11:03 PM

I thought that was just on cars, especially fwd ones.

Jon · March 07, 2019, 02:33:51 PM

At the Michelin test facility in Laurens SC they demonstrate on wet surfaces how the best tires when on the rear make a huge difference in preventing loss of control.

It applies to all vehicles, but that has nothing to do with loss of control from a sudden blowout or zipper failure which is an entirely different situation.

Geoff · March 07, 2019, 03:03:10 PM

What do zippers have to do with this?

All I know is that it is not that bad if you forget to pull it up-- it's only a problem if you forget to pull it down...

Jim Blackwood · March 07, 2019, 03:42:01 PM

It's all about when your 'gator gets loose.

Jim

chessie4905 · March 07, 2019, 04:42:28 PM

Or Volkswagen with two flat tires

kyle4501 · March 07, 2019, 06:09:02 PM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on March 07, 2019, 07:57:51 AM
Front tire (tyre). I'm guessing it totally exploded but I've seen the Michelin videos showing that braking will increase the out-of-control factor while pressing the accelerator until the vehicle is stable will allow the driver to stop the vehicle safely. If the tire exploded and completely shredded, maybe there's nothing that could have been done, but maybe if the deflation was gentler, good training might have made a difference.
It's impossible to really know, of course.

I've had a couple of blowouts ( the second one made me a believer in date codes ) that were complete sudden catastrophic failures. Applying the accelerator definitely improves stability.
Still a good idea to not yank the steering wheel back & forth.

Lin · March 08, 2019, 08:54:56 AM

I did not see where the age of the tyres was mentioned. Does this apply to tires also?

kyle4501 · March 08, 2019, 04:09:22 PM

Quote from: Lin on March 08, 2019, 08:54:56 AM
I did not see where the age of the tyres was mentioned. Does this apply to tires also?

From the first post -

Forensic collision investigator PC Sharon Little told the inquest the vehicle was "found to have no significant defects before the collision that could have been considered dangerous".

She said: "The great age of the tyres were a significant factor in how the tyre burst. There was nothing readily apparent that the tyre was close to bursting.

Lin · March 08, 2019, 08:41:45 PM

Stating that the age of the tires was the cause is not helpful without mentioning the age. Was it 9 years or 19 years? Inflation could have also been a critical factor that is unverifiable now. If they were improperly inflated to begin with, or if there was a leak, that could have even been a greater issue. Hence, many choose to use TPM's. I understand that PC Little is doing the best she can with what information she has, but it may not be the whole story.