The Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has disclosed that having most of the tyres used in Nigeria produced locally is a key factor in eliminating fake and substandard tyres on Nigerian roads.
According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, Oyeyemi made this known in a presentation titled: “Merits of the Proper Use of Tyres,” delivered at the 2018 National Tyre Conference, organised by the National Automotive and Development Council in Kano, with the theme: “Strategy for Resuscitating Tyre Industry in Nigeria.”
Kazeem noted that in the presentation, the Corps Marshal stated that Tyres have been responsible for 5,562 vehicles being involved in road crashes from 2012-2017.
He gave the breakdown of total crashes that were caused by tyres from 2012 to 2017 as: 2012 (693 crashes), 2013 (1,271 crashes), 2014 (873 crashes), 2015 (813 crashes), 2016 (689 crashes) and in 2017 a total of 691 crashes, representing 7.36 per cent of the total crash recorded.
Oyeyemi’s presentation featured a survey conducted by FRSC on use of tyres on Nigerian roads in 2016, where it was discovered that of the 2,486 vehicles and 10,024 tyres that constituted the population of the survey, 39 per cent tyres are not expired as against 61 per cent; 50 per cent tyres are new, 35 per cent fairly used tyres and 15 per cent re-bore tyres; 9 per cent are complete worn out tyres as against 91 per cent that are not complete worn-out.
Continuing, he mentioned that 60 per cent of the vehicles surveyed have correct tyre pressure, while 40 per cent have incorrect tyre pressures.
Of this category, 26 per cent of the tyres were over inflated and 14 per cent under inflated, 42 per cent of motorists either did not have or have poor knowledge of tyre expiration date, while 58 per cent have good knowledge of tyre expiration dates.
In spite of the foregoing factors, Dr. Oyeyemi equally noted that higher speeds are less forgiving and lower speeds are more forgiving in all traffic situations, including tyre burst.
He gave an instance thus: at speed of 80km/hr, the risk is 20 times that of 30km/hr in the case of a tyre blowout.
Furthermore, the Corps Marshal lamented total disregard and subsequent non compliance to the instructions on tyres.
He also observed thus: “Many of the local vulcanizers use non-properly calibrated measuring tools while some lack basic knowledge of measurement of tyre pressure which results in arbitrary gauging of tyres without recourse to manufacturer’s specification is common.”
Oyeyemi however stressed that poor state of roads such as potholes and failed portions of the road affect the life span of tyres.
He stated that the Corps will not relent in its efforts to ensure compliance to safety standards especially as it affects the use of tyres.
The efforts, including enlightenment and awareness creation on tyre safety, have been embarked upon by the Corps through electronic and print and social media.
Public enlightenment where a lot of handbills on tyre education has also been distributed to motorists, pre-trip vehicles inspection programme at motor parks aimed at encouraging drivers to inspect their vehicles before embarking on a journey, Free Vehicle Safety Checks, and Total Enforcement are also included.
Stating that the campaign on tyres needed the cooperation of stakeholders to be successful, the Corps Marshal observed that winning the “war” against substandard use of tyres requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, which is not limited to the NADDC, SON, NSE, NPF, VIO, MLA, NURTW, FRSC and RTEAN.