The risk of wheel loss is a concern for all commercial vehicle operators
On 30 August 2007 a coach travelling on the M4 narrowly avoided skidding off the motorway on to the A470 below after losing two near side wheels. One wheel caused severe damage to a car travelling in the opposite direction.
A 39 woman, from Stafford, was killed when a skip lorry heading in the opposite direction lost a wheel, which bounced across the central reservation into her car.
The wheels of a bus travelling through Livingstone, Scotland fell off and landed in a woman's front garden.
Incorrect wheel nut torque caused two wheel losses in Nova Scotia.
Thirteen-year-old cyclist died after being hit by the wheel of a Leyland truck, which detached from the vehicle’s axle on the Isle of Man.
Family car hit by rogue truck tyre killing mother in law and leaving two others with serious brain injuries in Ambala, India.
Firm banned after school bus in Midlothian, Scotland lost its offside twin wheels.
A 54 year old, was killed after a runaway wheel smashed into her car on the M62 in July 2006.
A man was killed in one of six tyre loss incidents over just 3 months in Seattle.
Operating licence cut by a third for Scottish Bus Company for three wheel losses in one year.
A mother of five from Lostwithiel, in Cornwall, was killed instantly when a wheel that had come loose from a lorry hit her.
Scottish Council vehicle licence cut after wheel loss incident.
Cardiff Company loses licence after wheel loss incident.
Bouncing truck tyre kills Ontario woman.
Pensioner, from East Sussex, died on 20 October 2006 when a wheel flew off a 32-ton-lorry and hit her as she waited at a bus stop. It was the second wheel to be lost from the tipper truck – less than a mile earlier an outer wheel flew off into a field but the driver, said he hadn’t noticed because of the noise of the lorry.
Wheel Loss - The Problem
Research on the scale of the problem in the UK has indicated that the following are typical annual frequencies:
- Up to 11,000 reported wheel fixing defects
- Up to 400 wheel detachments
- Up to 134 accidents involving vehicle/property damage
- Up to 27 accidents resulting in personal injury
- Up to 7 fatalities per annum
Consequences for commercial vehicle operators involved in such incidents can include the following:
- Heavy fines
- A poor safety record
- Escalating insurance costs
- Negative impact on corporate and public image
- Vehicle operating licences may also be at risk
In the UK, in 1997, the Department of Transport published an advice leaflet (Careless Torque Costs Lives) with the intention of reducing the scale of the problem. No measurable improvement resulted.
In 2006, the Department for Transport commissioned Transport Research Laboratories (TRL Ltd.) to undertake further studies. The report; S0535/V6 “Heavy Vehicle Wheel Detachment” published in November 2006 indicated that wheel detachment was still an ongoing problem, both in the UK and other countries – which were “broadly comparable”. In the UK, the problem incidence was reported as 11,000 wheel defects, 400 detachments, 27 injury accidents and 7 fatalities per annum.
It was noted that there were a wide range of “Best Practice” maintenance procedures and there was evidence that those operators who followed them reported fewer problems (but none claimed complete resolution). A number of devices which address the problem were recognised but no evaluation was made as to their effectiveness. However, in the VOSA statistics of roadside checks it was found that 15% of vehicles with wheel defects were equipped with movement indicators and 2% had retention devices fitted.
The report recommended that there should be further standardisation of best practice wheel tightening procedures and that education or even enforcement might be considered. From an engineering perspective, the report suggested that possible fundamental re-design of wheel attachment might be considered or the mandatory use of nut retention devices or movement indicators if independently shown to be effective.