Tyre bursts cause 108 crashes, kill 3 in RAK
ras al khaimah — While lack of tyre safety is a main reason behind thousands of road accidents every year, many drivers do not pay heed to this critical issue.
In Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), 108 tyre burst-related accidents had claimed three lives and injured four in the first 10 months of the year, according to official records.
Brigadier Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Humaidi, director general of the central operations department at the RAK Police, said: “Three people were killed and four were hurt in 108 accidents, due to the drivers’ failure to attend to tyre safety.”
Brig Humaidi added that maintaining the safety of all parts of the vehicle is a driver’s responsibility. The tyres, especially, must be of good quality, fit, not expired, and up to the standards. “Failing to ensure this could end in deadly accidents,” the official warned.
Some tyres may be valid and fit for internal roads and highways, but speeding causes them to burst, he said. “Drifting is another reason for these serious accidents, mainly turn-over ones.”
It’s the families of the unfortunate accident victims who can vouch most for tyre safety.
Sherif Sabry, an Egyptian, told Khaleej Times that he lost his younger brother in a gruesome
Tyres are critical to other road users’ safety, besides the drivers’ themselves. Failing to ensure this could end in deadly accidents.” Brigadier Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Humaidi, director general, central operations dept, RAK Police
road accident. “The tragic mishap, in which his wife was also killed, was due to a tyre burst. My brother lost control over the steering wheel, veered off the road, and rammed into a lamp post on the middle road island.
“The impact of the collision was so hard that the saloon car split into two halves.”
Sabry added that the couple’s eight-year-old son and six-yearold daughter are now orphans, just because of not paying attention to a critical safety aspect.
Mohammed Salem, a safety engineer, said car tyres are the only vehicle part which comes in contact with the road. “They play a major role in the safety of passengers, other road users and the vehicle.”
All tyres must be the right kind and size for your vehicle, he added. “They should be properly inflated, free of defects, and have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm.”