ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, July 23rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Road Travelers Must Check Tires to Prevent Accidents

The Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department of Abu Dhabi Police, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Tyre Company, provided motorists with essential information in order to avoid traffic accidents that may result from faulty tires. Motorists were urged to check the conditions of the tires, and make sure they are compliant with specifications and appropriate for the necessary speeds of the vehicle before buying them. They were also encouraged to make a commitment to drive safely and to familiarize themselves with needed tire specifications so as to avoid hurting themselves or others on the road.

These efforts fall under the “Your Safety” campaign that is carried out by the Abu Dhabi Police. The campaign spreads key concepts such as tire safety and optimal use, and urges motorists, especially road travelers, to conduct periodic tire check-ups as a precaution. Taking these steps is a precautionary measure to avoid traffic accidents caused by tires bursting due to their lack of suitability.

Colonel Mohamed Mayouf Al Ketbi, Head of Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said, “Promoting traffic safety, especially when related to tire validity, is a very essential matter to Abu Dhabi Police as we aim to protect the lives of drivers and other road users.” Colonel Al Ketbi highlighted the importance of carrying out the necessary technical tests for tires and of learning how to verify their serviceability. Colonel Al Ketbi also warned motorists against leaving the damaged tires on the side of the road when they are replacing tires, as this creates obstacles that lead to traffic accidents. He emphasized the need to promote awareness among drivers in a bid to engage them in the efforts to reduce the number of traffic accidents.

Major Abdullah Al Tunaiji, Chief of the Public Relations Branch at the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department, said, “A large number of motorists have benefitted from the campaign while visiting the Technical Test Center at ‘Al Salama’. We handed out brochures highlighting tire safety, which provided advice on how to check the validity of the tires and to verify standard specifications. We focused on introducing motorists to the ways of choosing tires before buying them, how to maintain them after purchasing them, and how to conduct periodic inspections in order to avoid damages and ensure safety.”

Major Al Tunaiji stressed the need to examine all of the vehicle’s tires, including the spare tire. He said, “Motorists are urged to measure the air pressure and look for any faults or damages in the main and spare tires.” He explained that when driving at high speeds, friction between the tires and the road may cause tires to overheat and explode.

Major Al Tunaiji urged motorists that in order to avoid accidents due to faulty tire explosion, they must not rely on the appearance of the tire alone. They must ensure the safety and serviceability of the tires and make sure to choose the right tire for the vehicle’s speed and power. He also called on motorists to dispose of their damaged tires in a proper manner and refrain from leaving them on the side of the road when changing their vehicle’s tires. Tires left on the road can hinder traffic flow and create obstacles that may lead to traffic accidents, as other drivers may have to veer suddenly to avoid them. This applies to drivers on main and side roads, but it is especially prevalent on highways.

Major Al Tunaiji added, “Motorists are also urged to avoid oil spills on the roads as they damage the tires and alter their efficiency. It is of utmost importance to have quality tires that have not been purchased based on appearance alone.”

Engineer Khaled Abdul Ghani, Technical Director at the Abu Dhabi Tyre Company, highlighted the steps that must be followed to maintain the tires life and serviceability; and how to conduct periodic inspections to check for small stones, pieces of glass or bits of metal and or other foreign objects that may be wedged into the tread of the tire. Abdul Ghani explained, “The presence of any of these objects could cause the tire to deflate, ultimately damaging the tire and causing accidents.”  He also stressed the importance of making sure that there is adequate air pressure in the tire and there are no cracks or holes that may cause leakage.   Abdul Ghani advised drivers not to adjust the air pressure, by either reducing or increasing, when the tire is overheated. He also emphasized the importance of utilizing the proper air pressure in order to avoid any detrimental effects that may result from making a bad decision, or by not considering the increased loads that may strain the tire.  He also advised drivers to not drive in areas that may affect the safety of the tires.

“The safety and security standards for tires mean that tires should be rotated approximately every 10,000 km. It is preferable, however, to rotate the tires if there are any signs of irregularity, uncomfortable driving or damage to the tires. Adjust the alignment of the car’s tires in order to reduce wear-and-tear and carry out periodic inspections at least every three months,” said Abdul Ghani.

Abdul Ghani added, “If you choose to keep your car in your home, you should elevate it by using soft rubber pads under the tire so they do not become flattened. When changing tires, make sure to pay special attention to the validity of the brakes before fitting new tires. After installing new tires, we recommend adjusting the wheel alignment to get balanced vibration and rotating the tires every 10,000 km.”

For their part, the motorists acknowledged the importance of the awareness outreach provided by the Abu Dhabi Police about the potential risks of faulty tires. The promotion of this tire safety culture taught them about the correct methods of selecting tires and of the standards and specifications that they need to look for. Commenting on this, Mohammed Abdullah said, “Through the awareness provided by the Abu Dhabi Police to motorists about the dangers of tire damage, we learned more about the culture of tire safety and maintenance, how to select tires based on approved specifications, and how to adhere to the guidelines that will help maintain the integrity and quality of the tires.” He also pointed out that if drivers are unfamiliar with the specifications needed for their tires, they may be exposed to being exploited by some shops who want to sell them low-quality tires.

Abu Ahmed, who preferred not to be named, concurred, and noted that by knowing the technical criteria and standards of tires, motorists can avoid buying old and poor quality tires. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of the awareness campaigns carried out by the Abu Dhabi Police in augmenting the sense of responsibility of drivers in maintaining the safety of their tires and vehicles in general.

Agreeing, Abdullah Mahmoud said, “The cooperation of individuals with the police by adhering to the standards and methods of selecting new tires reduces accidents caused by worn-out and faulty tires. Awareness is a collective responsibility. We must spread preventive and educational awareness among the various segments of society by warning drivers about the dangers of worn-out tires.”

Mustafa Jamal indicated that he was able to familiarize himself with the methods of choosing tires according to the approved specifications and standards in order to maintain his safety and the safety of others. “This awareness campaign provided all of the technical information needed in order to examine the serviceability of the tires, and ensure safety,” he said.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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