Ford is taking part in Road safety Week by highlighting how young drivers should maintain their cars.

Working with the AA, Ford has outlined key ways to address potential hazards.

“Young drivers are more at risk of getting into difficult situations,” said Andy Barratt, Ford customer service director.

“Pressures on young people's finances can mean skimping on essential servicing, care and maintenance.

“This can be dangerous, especially as their vehicles are likely to be older.”

Ford is highlighting the need for owners of older vehicles to maintain service schedules as they would with a brand new car.

“We are aware that people run their cars to a budget and in the current climate that budget may have been trimmed,” said Barratt.

“Ford offers free tyre inspections to our customers – and Ford has introduced its £99 Value Service for vehicles over three years old.

This includes a full service and inspection of all consumable items such as wiper blades, wiring, hoses and exhausts.

It extends to the transmission, brakes and running gear and even includes details such as dashboard illumination.

For National Road Safety Week, the AA researched its principal area of concern – tyres.

“The one component connected car to the road are its tyres and 45 per cent of UK motorists don’t know the minimum legal tread depth for tyres – which is a total of nearly 17 million people,” said Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety.

“To drive safely, you need the right tyres in good condition, as they affect the steering, braking and acceleration of your vehicle – particularly at this time of year.

"On a wet road, worn tyres can mean braking distances increase by up to 70%.”