Tyre shock survey

A GCC-wide survey on tyre safety has revealed that one in four drivers are placing their lives and the lives of others in danger by not checking the condition of their vehicle’s tyres.

 The finding has serious implications for drivers across the region as faulty tyres are cited as a leading cause of road traffic accidents, particularly during the summer months.

The survey was conducted during the Bridgestone Tyre Safety and Eco Station roadshow which toured major GCC cities from February to July this year. A total of 5,133 people, mainly between the ages of 21 and 40 (72 per cent), took part in the survey, and more than nine out of ten respondents (91 per cent) were male.

“The results are worrying with regards to the number of people potentially travelling in unsafe vehicles,” said Shoichi Sakuma, president of Bridgestone Middle East & Africa. “Our survey revealed that one in four drivers are placing their lives and the lives of others in danger, simply because they do not know how to check the condition of their tyres properly.”
 
Of those surveyed, 74 per cent said that they check either their tyres’ physical state – for example if they look deflated or if the treads are worn – or their tyres’ air pressure. Almost half of those drivers who practice tyre checks only claimed to do so every three months, although it is recommended that tyre checks for air pressure and tread wear should be carried out at least once a month.

Of those who did not check at all, the principal reason for failing to do so was a lack of knowledge, with 44 per cent who didn’t check saying ‘I do not know how’. This figure rose to two thirds of respondents in the UAE (Dubai, 68 per cent and Abu Dhabi, 63 per cent).

Drivers in Muscat were the most likely to check their tyres (87 per cent), followed by four out of every five drivers in Doha and Riyadh (79 per cent and 77 per cent respectively). Kuwait had the lowest results, with less than two thirds (63 per cent) checking their tyres.

Sakuma added: “A quarter of the survey participants have never checked their tyres at all and currently don’t know what condition they are in. This is disturbing, as the only indicator for these drivers to change their tyres would be when a tyre deflates, which could prove dangerous if the vehicle is moving.”

Equally alarming is the lack of awareness about the correct air pressure measurement (psi/kpa/bars) to be maintained in tyres, with 32 per cent of respondents stating they ‘do not know’ what it should be. Drivers are advised to consult the owner’s manual for the correct air pressure to be maintained in their vehicle’s tyres.
 
An even greater number (57 per cent) did not know about the ‘tread wear indicator’ on tyres, which are small triangle marks around the tyre sidewall which indicates the minimum level the tyre tread can wear down for safe use.

Additionally, 53 per cent of all survey participants did not know that there was a relationship between tyre safety and eco-friendliness.

Driving a vehicle on properly inflated tyres helps to reduce rolling resistance, which reduces fuel consumption. “A few moments to check your tyres will significantly reduce the possibility of an accident, and will render the vehicle slightly more fuel-efficient, saving you money,” added Sakuma.  

Bridgestone says the aim of its Tyre Safety and Eco Station roadshow is to help reduce road traffic accidents in the region through education and awareness on proper tyre care.
 
In a bid to encourage drivers to practice tyre safety, the company freely distributed more than 8,000 tyre safety compact gauges to mall-goers and survey participants throughout the campaign.

The roadshow Eco Station was designed for families and a section of the station was dedicated to kids for eco-themed drawing activities while their parents learnt about tyre safety.

The children were able to express through art their thoughts on how they could help protect the planet. Approximately 3,350 creative artworks were gathered throughout the GCC roadshow.