In-depth training for traffic officers about tyres

© SkyLine – za.fotolia.com

Accidents are often a direct result of poor tyre management. Training traffic officers from the 13 colleges across the country enhances understanding, awareness and technical knowledge of tyre safety among traffic officers. This knowledge could prevent fatal and costly accidents.

"When you consider the fact that the only part of a vehicle that actually touches the road are your tyres, each only about the size of your palm, it becomes easier to understand the importance of thorough tyre management," said Dr Etienne Human, CEO and director of the SATMC.

To address the need for increased awareness and improved technical knowledge, the SATMC has been conducting training sessions with more than 250 RTMC College training officers over the past 20 months.

Traffic officials have the opportunity to ask questions during smaller group discussions. Many concerns are raised by the officials with regards to poor tyre maintenance and the dangerous tyre found on the roads.

A representative body

The SATMC, a representative body of all five manufacturing companies in South Africa: Apollo Durban PL, Bridgestone SA (including Firestone), Continental Tyres SA, Goodyear SA and Sumitomo Rubber SA (including Dunlop), is dedicated to the increased tyre safety among South African public law enforcers as well as road users.

"The main objective of the training is eventually to educate all officials through the traffic officer training colleges with regards to the legal requirements when checking tyres on vehicles," said Human. "This will enable officers to examine tyres properly and limit unroadworthy vehicles on the roads, which could reduce accident rates, and thus save many lives and millions of rands." The officials are equipped with sufficient knowledge to advise a road user if his vehicle's tyres are unsafe, dangerous or close to the retirement stage.

The tyre training, which is mainly conducted through the officers' training colleges, aims to equipped traffic officers with the expertise to identify common safety concerns and, ultimately, increase the awareness of tyre safety and maintenance among South African road users.

During training sessions, concerns were raised by the officials that road users are ignorant about dangerous issues like, for example, a lump or a bump on the sidewall of a tyre. Not only may the traffic official fine a motorist for this, as per the Road Regulations, but it is highly dangerous.

Between now and September 2014, SATMC will conduct additional traffic officer training in the Northern Cape, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State.

"We are excited about our partnership with the RTMC and hope to expand the project to also provide training for taxi associations, freight companies and public transport representatives," said Human.

For more information about the SATMC and the traffic officer training, contact info@rubbersa.com