Shocking pictures show motorway miracle as driver escapes flying tyre smash
An unsuspecting driver narrowly avoided disaster after a flying tyre crashed into his windscreen on a motorway.
The unnamed man was traveling on the M6 near Leyland in Lancashire when a tyre from an oncoming HGV came loose and bounced terrifyingly across the central reservation.
The wheel then careered into the windscreen of the driver’s Peugeot at high speed, shattering the glass and tearing off the roof.
Thankfully, he somehow avoided serious injury, managing to pull into the hard shoulder and escape in one piece.
Lancashire Roads Police posted pictures of the smash on Twitter, showing the windscreen and roof completely caved in by the tyre:
The force called the driver “the luckiest person in the world right now” after the tyre lodged itself in the back seat and he managed to guide the vehicle to the hard shoulder.
They added: “This tyre detached from an HGV on the M6 at jct28, crossed the central barrier & struck an oncoming vehicle. Thankfully (only) minor injuries.”
One tweet mentioned the crash could have been a lot worse had the driver’s young son been in the car as the tyre crushed the child’s car seat in the back of the vehicle.
“Thankfully he was unable to take [his son], but it doesn’t bear thinking about what would have happened had his son been in this car seat.”
Unsafe tyres such as those on the HGV can cause significant danger on the road, leaving drivers unable to accelerate, steer or brake properly.
Department for Transport figures for 2017 show 17 people were killed on the road and a further 147 seriously injured in collisions where tyre defect was a contributing factor.
Drivers should carry out regular checks on their tyres, checking tread and pressure at least once a fortnight and before any longer journeys to avoid the risks of unsafe tyres.
- How to check your tyre pressure
- How to fix a flat tyre – all you need to know
- ‘Unbelievable’ no-tyre driver charged with dangerous driving
- Middle-lane hoggers face police crackdown
- Middle-lane hoggers targeted by vigilante graffiti on the M6
- Motorway roadworks speed limit may rise to 60mph
When looking for quality, new or second-hand tyres check out RAC Tyres and find the right tyres for your car today.
Alternatively, head to one of RAC Approved Garages where a trusted mechanic will be able to give your tyres a once over and give you peace of mind when you’re out on the roads.
Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
Cheaper than AA Price Promise^
• Roadside cover from £5.29 a month*
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^Find the same cover cheaper with the AA within 7 days & we’ll beat it by 20%. †T&Cs apply.
You might also like
Driving habits that damage your car
A list of 10 things that could be damaging your vehicle – and you might not even realise you’re doing them. Learn more here with the RAC.
Video
Tyre safety – all you need to know
Many motorists overlook their car’s tyres, dismissing them as black round items that just come as part of your car. Learn more about tyre safety in the UK.
10 driving offences you didn’t know were illegal
Here are 10 ways you can break the law, perhaps without being aware you’re doing so. Watch out for them and make sure you don’t commit them.
Video
Tyre tread depth, UK law and tyre safety checks
What is the minimum legal tyre tread depth in he UK? Full information with advice and a short video about how to check your car's tyres.
11 of the most annoying UK driving habits
Middle lane hogging? Driving below the speed limit? What do you think the most annoying driving habits are? Here's our choices, let's see if you agree
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10