What's you answer?

[boglin]

I've just been told that it's illegal *not* to have a spare tyre if you're driving on the motorway. It doesn't seem right to me, as I know of cars - like the Smart - that don't actually come with a spare tyre.

I haven't been able to find any reference to it myself, but I know many of you out there know more about cars than me. So -

...is it illegal to drive on a motorway without a spare tyre?

Comments

[sciamachy.livejournal.com]

No. If you have a spare tyre in your car it must be inflated and of legal quality (depth of tread at least 5mm, no bulges or bare bits, etc), but if you have no spare you're fine.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Yes, and that's true regardless of the road being travelled on. Your car will fail an MoT if the spare is not roadworthy - I assume because if you actually do need to use it you may be tempted, whereas if you've not got one at all you're not going anywhere.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Oops. I was wrong. The spare, even if present, is not tested during the MoT.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Topics/Motoring/CarDrivers/OwningYourCar/MOTYourCar/MOTYourCarInformation/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4002266&chk=tkjX%2Bp

Still, I seem to recall that there are differences between the MoT requirements and the law as applied to road vehicles.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Also, from http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/24.shtml which covers breakdowns on motorways: "do not attempt even simple repairs".

[captainweasel.livejournal.com]

good idea not to be fooling round with tools and jacks only a few inches from speeding traffic i'd guess...

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

Yes. A lorry up the arse often offends.

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

Umm - surely if that were the case then they wouldn't be allowed to sell a car in the UK that doesn't comply with our road rules? I couldn't find anything on it at all when I did a bit of web trawling. Perhaps it's more of a guideline than a rule? Who knows.

[ulfilias.livejournal.com]

Does the smart not have some other way of dealing with a flat tyre ??? Either Run Flats, or the inflata canister thingys that coat the inside in a goo or something ???