The head of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s road safety research centre, Assoc Prof Law Teik Hua recently cited a long-overlooked problem regarding the condition of tyres in our country and their safety.
“Public awareness on tyre safety remains low, with many unaware of how to assess tyre conditions, such as reading the tread wear indicator (TWI) or checking expiry dates,” he said.
Although his comments are noteworthy, the government’s role in ensuring the roadworthiness of tyres must also be taken into account.
One problem is that petrol stations are never held accountable for not maintaining the tyre pressure pumps at their premises.
The government must enforce stringent controls and fines on these stations. This would ensure that their tyre pressure pumps are functioning and reliably calibrated.
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Another problem involves cheap retread tyres. I have seen rubber strips shorn off from poor quality retread tyres on our roads and highways. This suggests that consistent regulatory vigilance on manufacturers and retailers of such tyres is urgently needed.
Profiteering through the use of cheap, poor-quality retread tyres should not be tolerated by the relevant government authorities, especially when they pose a safety risk to road users.
Many of our roads are plagued with potholes and poorly resurfaced tarmac. Such conditions hasten the wear and tear of tyres and other critical motor vehicle parts.
Why are some Malaysian-made tyres more expensive than imported tyres from other countries such as Thailand or China? Is the quality compromised when production costs are cheaper?
The cheaper imported tyres are generally more sought after. The relevant government authorities need to monitor and investigate their reliability, lifespan and suitability for our road and climate conditions.
We should also examine the price and quality of cheap motor vehicle spare parts flooding the domestic market.
Given all of these concerns, are motorists solely to blame for not paying attention to tyre conditions and their safety?
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
