Fifty lorry drivers fined for worn tyres in just an hour

Campaign aims to cut the number of vehicles with dangerously worn tyres, as traffic police issued more than 50 fines to lorry drivers in just one hour.

ABU DHABI // Traffic police issued more than 50 fines to lorry drivers in just one hour yesterday morning as part of a three-month campaign to cut the number of vehicles with dangerously worn tyres. Out of around 100 lorries that police stopped in front of Zayed Sports City, 53 were found to have tyre problems and were issued tickets. Most were fined Dh200 (US$54) for having severely cracked or degraded tyre treads and rims. Many of the drivers blamed their employers for not ensuring the safety of the vehicles, but police said the same excuse was typically given by lorry drivers who owned the vehicles in an attempt to avoid the fines. The campaign is deliberately being run during the summer months, when hot roads increase the risk of tyre blow-outs.

So far this year, four people have died and 46 have been injured in more than 25 such accidents in the capital, according to police. Last year there were 264 accidents nationwide linked to degraded tyres or replaced tyres left on the road, resulting in 22 fatalities and 238 injuries. * The National