A DRIVER has escaped by the skin of his teeth after his tyres blew out and his lorry hurtled off the motorway into a ditch.
The fortunate lorry driver only suffered minor injuries after his lorry crashed through a barrier and spiralled off of the M6.
His escape was documented on CCTV, and the footage has been made public by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) today.
The footage shows the lorry swerving across the inside lane, onto the hard shoulder, and then crashing through a fence.
It occurred between junctions 6 and 7 near Birmingham, and the driver was quickly transported to Walsall Manor Hospital soon after.
His injuries weren’t considered serious.
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The damage to the motorway was however, and three of the four lanes were closed for several hours afterwards.
A spokesperson for CMPG took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say: “Yesterday, another HGV leaving the Motorway just past Junction 7 of the M6 South, as a result of a tyre blow out.
“Driver was very fortunate to get out alive with minor injuries.
“Please check your tyres regularly for yours and everyone’s else’s safety!”
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The footage, which has now been shared online has also attracted a wealth of concern.
One web user wrote: “He’s very lucky to be alive from the looking at that video.”
While another added: “Great footage showing the importance of good tyre safety and the immense power that these lorries travel with when out of control.”
Motoring experts advise drivers to always check the production date and index letters on the tyre before making a purchase to avoid a blow-out.
Family cars tend to need a resistance of 300 or above, and a tyre’s grade for grip and traction should be A or above.
If you choose B grade tyres, you are at a greater risk of a blow-out.
The speed rating on the tyre dictates how fast the car could travel without a risk of a blow-out.
And keep checking your tyres.
The most obvious clues that your tyres are on borrowed time are any visible signs of damage or deterioration.
Always be sure to check the rubber regularly and stay on top of its condition.
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In extreme cases, you may be able to see the steel and textile threads that hold the frame of the tyre in shape and keep it stable when in contact with the road.
If you notice any part of your tyre where these thin wires are visible, you must replace it immediately as it has been structurally compromised.
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Neha Dhillon
