The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday in Kaduna, began a seven-day campaign to enlighten motorists and members of the public against the use of expired and substandard tyres.
The Deputy Corps Marshall, Operations, Mr Adei Abu, said at the flag-off ceremony, held at Television Garage Kaduna, that the measure was to curb tyre burst and related road crashes.
According to him, road crashes currently kills more than HIV/ AIDS, with many lives lost due to over speeding, use of substandard and expired tyres.
“In 2015 for example, a total of 8,986 road crashes were recorded, out of which over 722 were as a result of tyre burst, leading to the death of 4, 910 people. This is unacceptable”, he said.
Abu explained that all tyres have a four-year life span from the day of manufacture.
He also said that car owners are expected to replace their tyres after covering a maximum of 80, 000 kilometres whether it has been used for four years or not.
He, therefore, advised motorist to always check the manufacturing date to avoid buying expired tyres.
“The expiration date is usually indicated on the sidewalls of the tyre. It comes in four digits; the first two digits shows the week the tyre was manufactured while the last two represent the year of manufacture.
“For example, if the numbers are 0510, it means that the tyre was manufactured in fifth week of 2010″, Abu said.
He equally advised drivers to maintain specified tyre pressure to improve vehicle safety, extend tyre life and maintain fuel efficiency.
Abu added that after the seven-day enlightenment campaign, FRSC officials would commence impounding vehicle with expired tyres where applicable.
Also speaking, the Kaduna Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma called on motorist to desist from using used tyres, popularly known as tokumbo tyres.
According to him, such tyres might be cheap, but are death trap to motorists who patronise them.
Udoma stressed that if motorists stops patronising used tyres , the dealers would equally stop selling them.
On his part, the Zonal Commander, Zone 1, Mr Bulus Darwang, said that the campaign would be extended to mosques, churches, ministries, departments and agencies.
Darwand called for the cooperation of motorists with a view to reducing the rate of tyre burst and related road crashes in the country.
Also speaking, the Organizing Secretary, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kaduna State, Malam Usman Mohammed, thanked FRSC for initiating the campaign to save lives.
Mohammed urged Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that no substandard or expired tyres were imported into the country.
Also speaking, Mr Charles Ijoma, the Chairman of Katsina Road Tyre Dealers’ Association, said that the current condition of Nigerian road was also responsible for road crashes across the country.
Ijoma added that government must ensure that all roads in the country are portholes-free and motorable to reduce road crashes.
The occasion was attended by vulcanizers, tyre dealers and drivers.
