Why aren’t we talking about this? Why the national pretence, like it’s not happening. How many more is needed to extricate our heads from the proverbial sand?
For the statistics make painful reading. With the month of February, numerically abbreviated twenty and eight, yet has abbreviated eleven. Where two prematurely exited at the teenage terminus, even as five were twenty’s truncated, with three, two scores and more, denied their three scores and ten. Thus, once again we demand to know, why aren’t PPP talking about this? How many more is required to extricate PPP head from the proverbial sand? When will the PPP act on this epidemic? This epidemic of carnage on our roads. Why haven’t they outlawed used tyre importation? Used tyres that are responsible for way too many deaths. Used tyres that are imported from Europe and America. Countries that value life, thus have strict laws on tyre safety, unlike PPP and their cronies, that position dollars over deaths.
International practice
Thus, the predictable, this articulated will be listed unpopular, upsetting those who position dollars over deaths. However, this narrative will explore to expose, PPP the business, that value life as the lifeless. Where the masses will now contrastingly recognise, Western Societies, informed by scientific evidence, have laws to protect life from 5000kg killing machines.
Hence this is humbly shared, cognisant I should be on road safety, having driven +18yrs in the UK, where the laws are crystal clear. Whence, all tyres must be of minimum pressures and thickness, along with being free of obvious damage. Additionally, any vehicle older than three years, must have an annual roadworthiness examination.
To that end, we explore this RAC advisory, a major British roadside assistance and Insurance provider, “Checking your legal tyre tread depth is one of the most important checks you can make on your car. Having worn tyres means the only contact patch between you and the road is past its best. You could almost call it an accident waiting to happen.”
Where herein is the rationale— caught driving with one unsafe tyre, you’ll face a fine of £2,500 and a three penalty points. However, a car has four tyres, which means with four tyres defective, you could potentially lose your licence, whilst facing a £10,000 fine. But apart from the monetary cost, there is also the limb and life consequences—death and disability.
Thus the numbers—The legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. The tread must meet this minimum requirement across its complete circumference. However, not all concur—Some tyre and safety experts believe the 1.6mm legal minimum is insufficient to guarantee safety, with most recommending a minimum tread depth of 3mm for tyre replacement.
Now the science underpinning the numbers— Research undertaken by the UK technical organisation MIRA found that, once tyres are below 3mm, stopping distances increase dramatically. Further, the difference in wet braking distance between a tyre worn to 3mm and one worn to 1.6mm can be as much as 44%.
Now science in practice—Worn tyres are particularly dangerous in the wet because a tyre’s tread helps disperse water away from the contact patch between tyre and road. If there’s less tread depth, less water is shifted, increasing the risk of aquaplaning and losing grip. Where in heavy rain, each tyre can shift one gallon of water every second, illustrating just how hard tyres work. Therefore, simply put, deeper tread means they can work better, improving grip. Where failing such is playing Russian Roulette with human lives.
Guyana practice
Thus to Guyana, where there’s no enforced minimum tread limit, which means one can literally drive until the tyres are worn to the rims. To that end, worn tyres that have failed safety tests in Europe and America, are imported for sale, by unscrupulous businessmen. For so worn are these tyres, that they aren’t only of poor grip, but are also susceptible to blowouts. Where driving with them is as if driving on ice—skidding and losing control, of too many road carnages. Carnages of too many orphans, widows and grieving families.
Mark’s take
However, admit I must, the carnages on our roads are multifactorial;
1. Poor driving licence regulations.
2. DUI.
3. Speeding.
4. Poor quality roads.
5. Absence of stringent speed deterrents.
Which means, with such road deathtraps, how could PPP justify inserting deadly tyres, into the already lethal mix?
That said, with too many cars on our roadways, this we must acknowledge—Many existing paycheque to paycheque, have purchased cars through loans, without the requisite resources for car maintenance. This means, desperate to cut corners, they turn to used tyres, not being fully informed of the dangers. Thus, in the context of poor car maintenance and the aforestated lethal factors, the consequences are brains and blood on our roads. Hence this query, Freddie Kissoon, a used tyre advocate, is it worth it? Is it really worth PPP? For this to admit, as a doctor I’ve seen the mangled bodies. I’ve scooped the brains. I’ve repositioned the bowels, thus can confidently testify, dollars over deaths, isn’t worth it.
Having said that, APNU+AFC recognising the dangers of used tyres, did ban them. But for this life saving intervention, great condemnation they endured from PPP and their dollars over deaths advocates. Which meant, on being installed the law was repealed.
That said, the dollars over deaths advocates have proffered, the masses can’t afford new tyres. However, this the retort that thus far has gone unanswered, if they can’t afford new tyres, then they can’t afford a coffin. For that they’ll be lying in, sitting on those death tyres.
Thus my irremovable position, a life in Guyana is invaluable as a life in Britain, therefore should be protected at the same safety standards. Which means, PPP should forthright bring to an end, the dollars over deaths policy.
