Liverpool mum Frances, whose son musician Michael was just 18 when he died in a coach crash on his way back from a music festival in September 2012, launched the tyred campaign last week. Tony McDonough reports

Transport giant National Express is throwing its weight behind a tyre safety campaign spearheaded by Liverpool mum Frances Molloy.

Frances, whose son musician Michael Molloy was just 18 when he died in a coach crash on his way back from a music festival in September 2012, launched the tyred campaign last week.

Michael died, along with Kerry Ogden, 23, and the 53-year-old driver Colin Daulby, in a crash caused by a tyre on the coach that was almost 20 years old.

The campaign is seeking to ban the use of tyres older than 10 years on buses, coaches and minibuses (PSVs).

The coroner who presided over the inquests into the crash that killed Michael, Kerry and Colin, appealed to the Government to change the law but all it did was alter the guidelines, which are not enforceable in law.

As well as raising public awareness and encouraging people to lobby their MPs for a change in the law, tyred is also working to secure support for the campaign from the passenger transport industry.

The announcement of National Express as tyred’s first commercial supporter is seen as a significant landmark as the campaign bids to demonstrate that a ban on tyres older than 10 years is workable.

National Express is the UK’s largest coach operator with a fleet of 550 coaches travelling around 195,000 miles every day.

Managing director, Chris Hardy, said: “Safety is our number one priority and we value the well being of our employees, customers and the public above all else, so we fully back this important campaign.

“As the UK’s largest coach operator we aim to set an example to the rest of the industry by demonstrating that you can’t compromise when it comes to tyre safety, our support for the Tyred Campaign underlines our commitment to this

“We hope our involvement will help to bring about a legislative change as quickly as possible.”

Frances added: “It’s fantastic to have National Express join us, spreading the message to their passengers, young and old, that safety comes first.

“It’s time the Government acted to prevent any further tragedies.”