A major GCC-wide roadshow, which aims to make roads safer by emphasising safe tyre pressure and tread, will arrive in Kuwait this weekend.

The Bridgestone Tyre Safety and Eco Station campaign will feature at the Marina Bridge of Marina Mall on May 19 and 20 in Kuwait City after being in Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The campaign, developed by Bridgestone Middle East & Africa, urges the region’s drivers to check their tyre pressure and tread in a bid to enhance driver safety and reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents.

At the event, people will learn how to properly check tyre air pressure, tread wear, and other important tyre safety measures which enhances safety while driving on roads.

The stand will have a special demo corner where drivers can personally learn how to check the proper tyre air pressure and avoid the dangers of driving with underinflated/overinflated and worn-out/damaged tyres, a statement said.

There are also a whole host of fun activities for children and families at the stand – including drawing and coloring activities, face painting, giveaways, and raffle draws, it added.

All participants will receive an exclusive Bridgestone eco-bag, tyre safety booklet and a Bridgestone Tyre Safety compact gauge which measures air pressure and tread depth when they visit the stand and partake in the activities, according to the statement.

“The Tyre Safety & Eco Station is a fun and educational campaign that Bridgestone developed to help reduce the number of road accidents in the region,” said Daisuke Hotta, deputy general manager for Consumer Tyre Marketing of Bridgestone Middle East & Africa.

“By implementing a few simple and easy steps around the station, a proper and regular tyre check can be quickly learned which will really improve safety of people on the roads.”

The campaign also emphasises the positive environmental impact of maintaining correct tyre pressure. Driving at the correct pressure reduces fuel consumption, which in turn minimizes the environmental impact of a journey, and saves the motorist money.

The 2011 Bridgestone Tyre Safety & Eco Station campaign will finish its GCC-tour in the UAE by June, making finale stops in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai respectively.

According to the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Road Safety (2009) the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which includes the GCC, has the highest rate of road deaths in the world along with African nations.

Kuwait and Bahrain are the only two countries among GCC with incidence of fatalities below the global average of 19 per 100,000 at 16.9 and 12.1 road deaths per 100,000 people respectively.

The highest number is recorded by UAE at 37.1 followed by Saudi Arabia at 29, by Qatar at 23.7 and Oman at 21.3. – TradeArabia News Service