He was travelling on a long journey and did not ensure the car was safe and suitable to undertake the journey. On the way, there was a creaking noise which he chose to ignore; thinking it was probably the wind. After a particularly bad corner and a bend in the road, he straightened the car, and suddenly saw a wheel from the car overtaking him.
He was lucky not to brake and lucky that no other cars were coming at this particular moment. The car eventually stopped in a ditch and his heart dropped back from his mouth.
From the Punch newspapers
Mr. David Oyetoro, a banker, nearly lost his life on Western Avenue Road, Lagos. Travelling at 100km/h, he was having a jolly ride and only few minutes to his destination. Suddenly, there was a loud noise indicating that one of his Toyota Sienna car tyres had burst and the battle to save his life ensued. He survived and lived to tell the tale.
According to the Federal Road Safety Commission, tyre burst ranks third among causes of road crashes in Nigeria.‘Road crashes indicate that tyre burst presently occupies the third position among causative factors for road crashes in the country. It is also instructive to add that speed limit violation, is related variable to tyre burst‘.
There are many reports of tyres bursting and tyres becoming loose and overtaking cars on our roads. There are many dead and injured with spinal cord injury, head injuries and broken bones from tyre problems. There are ample opportunities to prevent accidents even before leaving the house.
Expired tyres
Do not buy expired tyres even if they look like new. Go to a reputable dealer and do not be fooled by people who care less about your health. Do not buy cheap tyres because you want to save money. You may not be and you may be jeopardising your life or limb.
Usually, tyres expiration dates are indicated on the tyre. They come in four digits indicating the week and year of manufacture. The first two of the four-digit numbers found on a round-ended box show the week the tyre was made. So, if the numbers are “0112,” it means that the tyre was made in first week of the year 2012; that is in January. Tyres have a 2-3 year maximum expiration date. So check and be sure your tyres are within the date.
Also, check the treading and therefore the grip of the tyres on the road. It is widely agreed by safety experts that a tyre’s performance – particularly in wet conditions – deteriorates dramatically once it gets below 2mm. So if your tread depth is below this level it would be wise to start looking into buying some new tyres.
If the tyres treads are actually worn out and flat, you are in grave danger especially on slippery roads. Some unscrupulous people retread tyres making them look like new. Many of these used tyres pose real danger and are banned in Nigeria. Despite the ban on used tyres by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria in August 2012, high demand still drives this line of business.
One viewpoint is that patronage of second-hand tyres is a result of rising cost of the new tyres. The cost of new tyres escalated following the exit of almost all the tyre manufacturing companies from Nigeria, principally because of poor power supply.
Check the bolts and tyre pressure
Tyres are your only point of contact with the road surface, so you cannot afford to neglect them. It is vital to check your tyres yourself following repairs by the vulcaniser or tyre repairers on the road. If someone has had to remove your tyres and fix them back, ensure you check the bolts and nuts yourself. Check that all the bolts have been fitted and tightly too.
It is also important to check the pressure in the tyres. Under or over inflate tyres could be equally dangerous.Under-inflated tyres wear fast at the edges (aka the shoulders) of the tread pattern, which means you will need new tyres sooner. Under-inflated tyres overheat, and overheated tyres commonly burst, and if this happens when you are travelling at a speed, the potential for danger is clear.
Over-inflation is also dangerous. This affects the central band of the tread pattern that wears fastest because the tyre has bulged like an over-inflated balloon. With over-inflated tyres, braking ability is reduced.
Do not speed
Maintaining the speed limit is critical when driving on Nigerian roads. Do not be so confident in your abilities to control the car and forget that there are many poor drivers on our roads. The speed affects your braking ability, braking distance and the effect on your tyres.
Check the care before you travel
Finally, it is a simple fact that that you must take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of passengers in commercial vehicles. Do not trivialise the importance of car safety checks before you travel. Check today and check by yourself.
Do not trust ‘Joe’ the mechanic with your life!
