A majority of young drivers in the UAE are not taking the required steps to ensure that their cars meet recommended standards of safety when it comes to tire maintenance, with independent tests revealing that over 40 percent of students’ cars are equipped with one or more tires that do not meet recommended safety standards.
These are among the findings of new research undertaken by Continental, a tire and automotive manufacturer, which found that over 50 percent of young drivers aged 18-24 were not checking their tires in line with expert advice, and over 10 percent were ignorant of the importance of the role tires play in road safety.
This research is the latest undertaken by Continental in the Middle East as part of its “Vision Zero” safety initiative. The German brand focused on relatively new drivers through two studies: One in collaboration with YouGov and another in partnership with the American University in Dubai and University of Dubai.
Tires should be checked regularly, as unbalanced air pressure, insufficient tread depth and irregular wear can lead to catastrophic tire failure.
Staff from Continental and its local partner, Emirates for Universal Tyres (EUT), checked 331 vehicles parked at the American University in Dubai and University of Dubai over several days, testing for air pressure, tire sizes, tread depth, wear and punctures.
Haitham Al-Maaini, acting director, student services department at University of Dubai, said: “Our initiatives come in line with the efforts made by the UAE authorities to reduce fatalities and protect people’s lives from car accidents mostly caused by high-speed driving or using road-unworthy vehicles. Therefore, the comprehensive tire check campaign delivered by Continental at University of Dubai was essential and beneficial to our students.”
Ricardo Martins, head of marketing, Continental Middle East, said: “The number of young drivers in the UAE who are not taking the health of their tires seriously should be a worry to all of us.”
“Checking the safety of your vehicle on a regular basis is the responsibility of each and every driver and is one simple way to minimize the risk of road accidents. That is why we take our global initiative of ‘Vision Zero’ very seriously and why we believe that activities such as this can make a genuine difference.”
