The development means the truck, van and other motorway users can get free tyre pressure checks at the motorway service area between junctions 16 and 15 of the southbound M6 at Keele in Staffordshire.
The pilot project, initiated by Highways England’s national incident prevention team, aims to make drivers aware of any issues with tyres, reducing the potential for anything from tyre-related breakdowns to high-speed blow outs.
Keele was chosen because Highways England incident figures show that this area of the M6 is particularly prone to tyre-related breakdowns and incidents.
Across England, there are 3,600 wheel or tyre-related incidents on the country’s motorways and major A roads every month.
The project was launched in April this year for an initial three-month trial period but has been so successful – now testing more than 1,000 vehicles a week – that it has now been extended until Thursday 31 December.
Under the scheme, drivers stopping off for a break at the services can drive their vehicle through one of two dedicated sensor stations that instantly assess each vehicle’s tyre pressures. The system then provide the driver with a print-out detailing the inflation of every tyre.