Police in Abu Dhabi seize 5,000 vehicles with defective tyres in first half of 2019

The force said a number of deaths and injuries have been caused by 'exploding' tyres

January 30 2010/ Abu Dhabi / Traffic is backed up leading to Abu Dhabi on the Maqta Bridge January 30, 2010. (Sammy Dallal / The National)





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More than 5,000 motorists in Abu Dhabi had their vehicles seized and were hit with fines in the first six months of the year for driving with unsafe tyres.

Abu Dhabi Police sent out a warning over the dangers of driving with damaged or expired tyres after revealing two people were killed and 12 others injured in accidents caused by tyre explosions in the emirate during the same period.

The startling figures were announced as the Ministry of Interior revealed that 110 people died and another 1,133 were injured in 785 accidents caused by damaged and expired tyres on the country's roads last year.

“In the first half of this year, intensive road traffic efforts in Abu Dhabi resulted in the seizure and violation of 5,376 vehicles for damaged or expired tires on various roads in the emirate," said Abu Dhabi Police in a statement.

“The fine for using damaged or expired tyres is Dh500, along with four black points and the vehicle being impounded for one week.”

In an effort to slash numbers of road accidents, Abu Dhabi Police is leading an awareness campaign, called Have a Safe Summer, to ensure drivers are sticking to the rules of the road.

“A free tyres check is being offered as part of the summer campaign in collaboration with Al Masaood Tyres Company through six petrol stations located in the emirate,” police said.

Motorists can check the safety of their tyres  at Corniche Petrol Station, Al Mushrif, Al Reem Island, Mahwi, Al Samha and Khalifa City.

A survey issued last month found nearly half of young drivers in Dubai do not maintain their vehicle's tyres.

A spot check carried out on 331 cars belonging to students at two universities in Dubai found 44 per cent had at least one tyre that did not meet safety standards, with potentially deadly defects including tyres being incorrectly inflated, damaged, badly worn or expired.

The tests – carried out by tyre manufacturer Continental and its regional partner Emirates for Universal Tyres – found 21 cars needed to have all four tyres replaced.