Tyre safety drive begins in Dubai

Accidents caused by worn-out tyres have dropped compared with previous years, police say

Dubai Police issued 419 fines to motorists caught driving with worn-out tyres during the first five months of 2016, officials said yesterday.

Col Jamal Al Bannai, deputy director of Dubai Traffic Police, said that in 2015 they issued 3,249 fines for the same offence and 8,291 in 2014.

The statistics were released during the launch of the ‘Summer without accidents’ campaign, which focuses on tyre and car safety, and encourages people to conduct regular checks of their vehicles.

The 45-day awareness campaign on tyre safety, focusing on highways and outer roads, was launched yesterday, “This is one of the maim campaigns that are under the Ministry of Interior,” he said.

Col Al Bannai said that the campaign, which is in its third year, will focus on vehicle safety, especially as the summer is very hot and this can affect vehicles that are not well-maintained.

The most common reason behind accidents during the summer is tyres that are in poor condition, he said.

In 2014, there were 12 accidents caused by burst tyres resulting in four deaths. In 2015, there were five accidents resulting in three deaths, and in 2016 up to May there were two incidents and zero deaths.

“This decrease is because of the awareness campaigns we have been holding. People are more aware of the dangers of bad tyres,” Col Al Bannai said.

Free check-ups

The campaign also includes lectures, distributing brochures, and interacting with the public via social media networks and tents that will be set up on roads such as Shaikh Zayed Road, DubaiAl Ain Road, Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.

“The tent will have awareness videos and free checkups by Autopro, who is partnering with us on this initiative,” he explained.