TyreSafe Marks 20th Briefing with Record Attendance

TyreSafe marked the 20th anniversary of its Annual Briefing and Awards with record attendance at The Belfry this week, bringing together more than 200 delegates from across the automotive, enforcement, retail, manufacturing, government and road safety sectors. The event placed tyre safety within the wider debate around casualty reduction and national road safety policy.

A wider road safety moment

The milestone event came as road safety organisations respond to the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026. The strategy aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads in Great Britain, with GB-wide targets to cut casualties by 2035.

For the tyre sector, that policy backdrop gives TyreSafe’s work added relevance. Poor tyre maintenance remains a practical, everyday risk factor for motorists, fleets and workshops. It also places retailers and service providers in a stronger position to support consistent safety messaging at point of sale and during routine vehicle checks.

Tyre News has recently covered the renewed focus on consumer tyre safety, including The Motor Ombudsman’s WORN-WARN campaign on part-worn tyres and TyreSafe’s 2025 Annual Review highlighting partnership work. Those developments show how education, enforcement and trade engagement are increasingly being treated as connected parts of the same safety challenge.

Collaboration remains the central message

Opening the event, TyreSafe Chairman Stuart Lovatt praised the collective work of the industry and said the sector must maintain momentum as road safety policy enters a new phase.

“This year’s record attendance demonstrates the strength and commitment of the tyre safety and road safety community,” Lovatt said. “As we welcome the first National Road Safety Strategy in 15 years, it is more important than ever that organisations across our sector continue to work collaboratively, share expertise and deliver consistent messages that help save lives.”

He added that the challenges ahead were significant, but said organisations working together had the opportunity to make a lasting difference.

The message was consistent throughout the day, with speakers and stakeholders returning to the need for a unified voice. In practice, that means aligning public education, workshop advice, fleet compliance and enforcement activity so motorists receive clearer messages about tyre condition, tread depth, inflation and roadworthiness.

Recognition across the sector

The Annual Briefing was followed by a gala dinner and awards ceremony recognising organisations and individuals working to improve tyre safety and wider road safety outcomes across the UK.

The 2026 TyreSafe Award winners were:

• Tyre Safety in the Community – Halfords
• Online & Social Media – The Motor Ombudsman
• Communications – Pneumatic Components Ltd
• Road Safety Partnerships – Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service
• Small Tyre Retailer of the Year – TMT Tyres
• Emergency Services Partner – Sussex Police Road Safety Team
• Innovation & Technology – Autogem Invicta Ltd
• Road Safety Organisation – Driven To Improve Ltd (My Learner Driver)
• Large Tyre Retailer of the Year – Protyre Autocare
• Vehicle Manufacturer – Toyota (GB) PLC
• Tyre Manufacturer of the Year – Bridgestone UK
• Road Safety Individual of the Year – Brad Mawson, Safer Roads Greater Manchester
• Special Recognition Award – Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd
• Outstanding Achievement Award – Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Lisa Scott

The spread of winners reflects the breadth of tyre safety work now taking place across retail, manufacturing, emergency services, education, enforcement and public communications. It also shows the value of making tyre safety visible beyond the tyre trade itself.

A lifetime contribution to casualty reduction

The evening concluded with TyreSafe’s Lifetime Achievement Award being presented to Lisa Scott. The award recognised her four-decade career in road safety, from early work as a Road Safety Officer to her current role as Regional Road Safety Programme Manager for the North West at National Highways.

Scott has also contributed to TyreSafe’s Steering Committee, supporting initiatives aimed at education, behavioural change and casualty reduction. Her recognition underlines the role long-term professional advocacy plays in keeping tyre safety on the wider road safety agenda.

Reflecting on the event, Lovatt said the 20th Annual Briefing and Awards showed what could be achieved when organisations came together with a shared purpose. He said the quality of entries reflected the work taking place across the country to improve tyre and road safety.

Why it matters to the tyre trade

For tyre retailers, manufacturers, fleet providers and service networks, the event reinforces a clear commercial and safety reality. Tyre safety is no longer only a seasonal campaign message. It is becoming part of a broader policy conversation around preventable harm, vehicle condition and shared road risk.

That gives the trade an important role. Workshops and retailers are often the final point of contact before a vehicle returns to the road. Clear advice, documented checks and consistent customer education can help translate national strategy into practical safety outcomes.

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Tagged with: TyreSafe, tyre safety, road safety, National Road Safety Strategy, tyre retailers, fleet safety, tyre maintenance, tread depth, part-worn tyres, road casualties, UK tyre industry

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