The transport ministry is studying new methods to detect the use of illegally retreaded tyres in the market, including the identification of physical evidence through security stamps (stamping) or QR and RFID technologies, Bernama reports.
Deputy transport minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the measure was implemented in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and aimed at ensuring only retreaded tyres that comply with mandatory safety standards are used by heavy vehicles on the roads.
Citing a MIROS study, he said 80.6% of road accidents in Malaysia were caused by driver negligence and road users’ attitudes, 13.2% due to road conditions and 6.2% due to vehicle condition.
“There is no denying that there is a trend of increasing road accidents involving heavy vehicles due to tyre or drivetrain failure. This situation also contributes to the fallout of tyre fragments on the road which pose a risk to other users.
“However, the study found that only a small part of the incidents were caused by the failure of retreaded tyres, while the majority stemmed from new pneumatic tyres and mechanical failures of the heavy vehicle itself,” Hasbi yesterday said in the Dewan Rakyat in response to Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, who asked about the government’s concrete steps to reduce retreaded tyre-related accidents.
The deputy transport minister added that the discussion on how safe retreaded tyres were needed to be seen more comprehensively, encompassing their production, importation, sale, use, maintenance and enforcement, also involving the jurisdiction of various agencies and ministries.
He said the transport ministry has gazetted UN regulations and Malaysian Standards in motor vehicle regulations, enforced Puspakom inspections and controlled tyre imports in collaboration with customs (JKDM) and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry (KPDN), while encouraging transport companies to establish pre-journey tyre inspection SOPs and continuing public awareness initiatives.
“The transport ministry is committed to ensuring that every tyre, whether new or retreaded, used in Malaysia complies with the prescribed safety and quality standards.
“A holistic (integrated) approach involving legislation, enforcement, import control, product labelling and consumer education will continue to be strengthened to ensure the safety of road users and reduce the risk of accidents caused by tyre failure in the country,” said Hasbi.
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