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With increasing concern over road conditions and related infrastructure, the onus is on drivers to protect themselves and their vehicles while on the road, says Sumitomo Tire South Africa (SRSA), proud local tire manufacturer including the iconic Dunlop tyres. Brand name
Poor road conditions
According to the SAICE 2022 Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa, South Africa’s road network is approximately 750,000 km long, making it the tenth longest in the world. Of this, about 160,000 km is paved and SANRAL manages 21,403 km of the paved network and the balance between the provinces and municipalities.
Most of the roads, managed by SANRAL’s Department of Tourism, regional departments or local municipalities, are dangerously traveled at the lower level of rating from A (world class infrastructure) to E (not fit for purpose).
SRSA is concerned about the recent report: “Secondary and tertiary road network [excluding national roads] It is experiencing an accelerated rate of deterioration, jeopardizing road safety and the efficiency of moving freight” and “the condition of most paved regional roads is substandard. There is an increased risk of breakdowns due to increased vehicle load, poor maintenance and less trained personnel in the road department.
The report added: “Most state and local road authorities do not regularly assess or publish the condition of their road networks, so repairs are more likely to fix potholes than regular preventative maintenance.”
Lubin Ozoks, CEO of Sumitomo Rubber SA, said: “SRSA works in the context of road safety. Whether we talk about the benefits of having your wipers fitted, headlights checked or quality tires fitted, it all refers to road safety and getting ourselves as a driver and our family safely from point A to point B. But the problem of road infrastructure and the lack of careful maintenance is closer to home in SRSA because our product has a direct relationship with infrastructure.”
Driver safety
SRSA urges motorists to heed the critical report and take care on the road.
“Once out on the road, drivers face a number of infrastructure-related problems such as potholes, washed-out debris, or poor road surfaces. These are beyond our control and beyond the driver’s control. Likewise, drivers should be alert to changing weather conditions, animal crossings and the behavior of other drivers on the road, Ozoks said.
In control, it is a quality tire.
“When a customer buys our tires, we truly have their life in our hands. When they choose to invest in our tires, people trust us because a quality product is proven multiple times for safety and designed using the latest research and innovation in the industry. If there’s one thing in your control, it’s for your vehicle and It’s about buying the right tire for your intended application.
How to travel safely on the roads of South Africa
Tire safety is more than just having good tires. Considering the poor road infrastructure, drivers should get the best advice before buying tires on South African roads.
- A vehicle owner should look at size, compatibility and fit, all of which have a direct impact on how safe the tires on your car are.
- To keep the road safe, tires must be installed at a certain rim width and this information is engraved on the sidewall of the tire along with other details such as load index, speed index and maximum pressure for that particular tire.
- Always buy new tires as the tread depth on second-hand tires can be dangerously low, causing aquaplaning on wet roads.
- In South Africa it is illegal to drive tires with less than 1.0mm of tire tread wear indicators.
- As tire pressures naturally decrease as air slowly bleeds from the inside of the tire, check tire pressure regularly, which means regular inspections are essential.
- Also, check the tread surface of your tires regularly for any screws, metal debris or broken glass.
Use Dunlop Sur to combat tire damage
“Dunlop Tires South Africa stands by its product and works for the safety of drivers on the road. That’s why we created the Dunlop Sure Tire Warranty. We are the only South African tire manufacturer to offer tire insurance. We want to give South Africans the confidence of Zanzi while they are on the road,” said Ozoks.
Dunlop Sur Tire Insurance is available exclusively from Dunlop branded retail outlets – Dunlop Zone, Dunlop Express, Dunlop Commercial and Dunlop Container Shops in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. Available for 12 months at no extra charge, all Dunlop tires offer a full replacement for passenger, SUV/4×4 and light truck tires for all non-repairable damage caused by road accidents within the first year of purchase.
Link to report: https://saice.org.za/downloads/SAICE-2022-Infrastructure-Report-Card.pdf
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