Better quality tyres can reduce accidents: Lanxess study

The study, sponsored by Lanxess, found that tyre quality impacts road safety because it determines braking distance and, ultimately, collision speed. High-quality tyres improve road grip and handling and can reduce braking distance by 50 percent. In 30 percent of all road accidents resulting in personal injuries, the collision speed and the severity of resulting injuries could be reduced with high-quality tyres. In fact, roughly five percent of all accidents could be avoided with better tyres.

“The report is a part of a strategic initiative to create greater awareness of the many important applications of high-performance rubber,” said Dr Joerg Strassburger, managing director of Lanxess India.

According to Professor Wildemann’s study, traffic fatalities in the country have been increasing at the rate of percent per annum. More road accidents occur in India, although there are fewer vehicles than in either Germany or China. India has the world’s third-largest road network, but India’s vehicle fleet per 1,000 people is currently one-fortieth of the figure in Germany and half that in China. In addition to better tyres, creating a greater level of awareness and adopting elements of traffic systems from more developed countries represent additional possible ways to reduce road accidents in India, the report says. Professor Wildemann also recommends implementing higher industry standards and regulations to minimise the rate of accidents.

As part of an awareness drive, Lanxess will organise a Rubber Day in New Delhi on December 3, 2010. The event is intended to generate discussions on both commercial and environmental aspects of the manufacture and consumption of high-tech synthetic rubber. The event will bring together industry leaders from the tyre and related industries, academics, government officials, industry analysts and rubber-related industry associations. Lanxess Rubber

Days have previously been held in Germany in 2009 and in China and Brazil in 2010.