Muscat, Oman, June 16, 2014

At a recent road safety conference in the Sultanate of Oman, Michelin reminded regulators and other key stakeholders that road safety is a shared responsibility.  More specifically, responsibility has to be shared between manufacturers, regulators, dealers, and drivers.

According to Michelin, manufacturers must ensure they produce tyres of the right quality - choice of materials significantly affects tyre safety - and provide guidance on how to operate their tyres safely. Manufacturers also need to abide by the regulations of the countries and meet the standards set.

Governments are also responsible for regulating as well as enforcing what they believe promotes safety on the roads in their countries. One such legislation is the regulation by the Government of Oman that forbids dealers to sell tyres that are over two years old from the date of manufacture.

The distribution network is also key to ensuring safety; its responsibility is to be able to competently fit tyres, comply with local regulations such as the sell by date limit, as well as provide the right advice to consumers.

Finally, drivers have a key responsibility in maintaining road safety by ensuring that tyres on their vehicles are inflated to the recommended pressures, are regularly inspected for any damages or abnormal wear, and are replaced when required with the right products at reputable dealerships.

 "The importance of tyre safety is often understated in a region with a high rate of road accidents. While drivers focus on ensuring that their vehicle looks good on the inside and out, without well-maintained tyres, drive quality, fuel consumption and safety are impacted," Said Mr. Terry Khokhar, Passenger Car Product Manager for Michelin Africa, India and Middle East, and the speaker at the Middle East Road Safety & ITS Summit.

Mr Khokhar added, "It is imperative to inflate tyres to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressures at all times but particularly during very hot weather. However, it is important to ensure that tyre pressures are checked and adjusted when the tyres are "cold", (Tyres are considered cold when they have not been used for at least two hours or after no more than 3 km of slow driving). Lower pressures reduce sidewall stiffness which causes the tyre to flex more than its design limits; and this results in degradation of the tyre's internal structure which could lead to its complete breakdown and quite possibly cause a "blow-out".

Michelin runs regular safety campaigns to engage consumers and increase awareness about tyre safety. All Michelin tyres imported into GCC countries are tested and certified to Gulf Standards.

-Ends-

About MICHELIN
Michelin, the World's leading tyre company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing and marketing tyres for every type of vehicle, ranging from bicycles and motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, farm and earthmoving machines to airplanes.

It also offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in more than 170 countries, has 111,200 employees and operates 67 factories in 17 countries. The Group has a Technology Centres for Research and Development with operations in Europe, North America and Asia. The Michelin regional headquarters for Africa, India and the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE.

© Press Release 2014