Abu Dhabi, Jul 22 (The National): Drivers are putting their lives at risk by ignoring the condition of their tyres, a survey has revealed.

Less than a third of motorists checked the tyre pressure of their cars once a fortnight as recommended, the YouGov Siraj poll found.

The majority of people questioned only tested the air in their tyres every three or four weeks – or longer, the government news agency, WAM, reported yesterday.

However, the research carried out in the UAE and Saudi Arabia found that most drivers did replace their tyres often enough.

“With the summer upon us, it is worrying the majority of motorists are failing to carry out even relatively minor safety checks,” said Vivek Wagle, research director at YouGov Siraj.

“There still appears to be a lack of understanding on most motorists’ part about the danger of incorrectly inflated tyres, and the campaigns just haven’t got the message across.”

Low air pressure in tyres causes them to flex, which can increase the likelihood of a blow-out.

The heat caused by the friction of the wheel on the road surface damages the tyres further – a problem exacerbated by the high summer temperatures.