The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, on Thursday said that 50.8 per cent of road accidents were caused by tyre-burst.

Saddiq Abdul-Rahman, the Unit Commander of Lagos Island, said this in his speech to motorists and commercial bus drivers at the annual `Ember Months’ Safety Campaign’ at the Obalende Motor Park in Lagos.

The `ember’ months are September, October, November and December.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman said that the safety campaign was organised by FRSC in order to record a lesser amount of crashes during and after the `ember’ months.

He said that the campaign was aimed at educating motorists on tyre safety.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman noted that FRSC had also collaborated with the Nigeria Custom Services, NCS, to ensure that imported tyres were totally banned from the country.

“We are collaborating with the Nigeria Custom Services to ensure that imported tyres are banned in the country to avoid crashes usually caused by tyre-burst.

“50.8 per cent of road accidents were caused by tyre-burst which is very easy to prevent.

“Drivers should avoid mounting pressure on the tyres through overload.

“The FRSC throughout the country will ensure that fewer crashes were recorded during the `ember’ months.

“We have doubled our efforts to ensure our roads are safe during the festive period,” he said.

Also, Abdulrasheed Moyosore, Chairman, Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, Lagos, in his speech said the association was collaborating with the FRSC, artisans and motorists to ensure tyres were properly fixed before embarking on any journey.

Mr. Moyosore said that the safety of tyres was paramount in the use of vehicles, especially, during festive period.

He advised artisans and commercial drivers to ensure that they fixed new tyres to their vehicles for safety.

The chairman noted that majority of intending travellers would patronise commercial vehicles during the Yuletide as a result of the current economic recessions.

He also appealed to drivers to avoid putting pressures on the tyres through overloading under the pretext of wanting to make more profit.