Dangerous tyre charges dismissed
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CHARGES brought by the police against a Wigan haulier, W, F. Dalton Ltd, Appley Bridge, and one of its drivers, William Keith Dalton, of using a motor lorry on M6 with a dangerous front nearside tyre, were dismissed by magistrates at Wigan last week.
Police said the lorry was involved in an accident caused by the blow-out of a rear tyre after picking up a sharp object. The lorry was inspected at a service station four miles on.
The front nearside tyre was found to have irregular wear on the circumference measuring up to 21/2in, the tyre being 61A in wide. Tyre gauge measurements showed that it did not have the required depths at these points.
Mr J. A. Backhouse, defending, submitted that the prosecution had offered no evidence to show there was likelihood of damage to the road surface or that a tyre in that condition was dangerous. Consequently, the elements of the charge had not been established. Producing the tyre Mr Backhouse said that, if necessary, he would call a tyre expert from Michelin to give evidence.
After examining the tyre, the magistrates held the charge had not been proved, but refused defence costs on the ground that it was a case properly brought by the police.