Mr Dennis Yeribu, Principal Manager of the Planning and Programmes Directorate at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has highlighted that approximately 10% of all road crashes can be attributed to inadequate tyre maintenance.
As a result, he advised motorists to prioritize good tyre maintenance practices to ensure safety on the roads.
Mr Yeribu made these remarks during the “Stay Alive Tyre Safety Campaign,” organized by the NRSA in collaboration with Vulco and supported by the Ghana Police Service.
As part of the campaign, the team conducted tyre assessments on around 500 private vehicles along the Tema Motorway. They also provided drivers with tyre safety and management tips, distributed tyre inflation coupons, and conducted road safety sensitization activities.
Following the tyre inspections, the team informed drivers about the health status of their tyres and offered appropriate remedies.
Mr Yeribu emphasized that tyre maintenance was a crucial aspect of road safety, often overlooked by many road users.
He mentioned that the Tyre Safety campaign would be expanded to other regions of the country, and a similar exercise would soon be organized for public transport vehicles.
Mr Yeribu stated that the data gathered from the campaign would guide future policy directions and targeted education programs on road safety.
He expressed his gratitude to Vulco and the Police for their assistance and commended the drivers for their cooperation and willingness to receive the educational materials.
Drivers, in turn, expressed their appreciation to the NRSA for the campaign, which enhanced their knowledge about tyre safety.
Mr Shakti Shukla, National Retail Manager of Vulco, shared an observation that approximately 65% to 70% of vehicles had winter tyres instead of summer tyres, which are better suited for Ghana's weather conditions.
He explained that summer tyres have a specific rubber compound that offers excellent grip and handling on both dry and wet roads in warmer conditions, while winter tyres provide outstanding grip on snowy and icy road surfaces as well as wet roads in cold conditions.
Mr Shukla noted that the standard maximum shelf life of tyres is five years, but many tyres were found to be overaged and cracked.
He advised motorists to purchase tyres that conform to their vehicle's Original Equipment (OE), have the correct size, maintain the recommended tyre pressure, and check the warranty provided by the manufacturer.
Furthermore, he advised drivers not to fit different tyre sizes on the same axle and to only use the size specified by the manufacturer.
He recommended regular tyre rotations every 10,000 kilometres, checking tyre pressure every 15 days, using the manufacturer's recommended pressure, inspecting valve conditions, and placing caps on the valves.
Mr Shukla highlighted that driving at high speeds, taking turns too fast, and making sudden stops negatively impact tyre life.
The consequences of unbalanced tyres include damage, irregular wear, loss of traction and stability, and lack of comfort.
