Because of changing weather conditions, Tatarstan Road Traffic Safety Inspectorate urges drivers to install winter tyres on their vehicles as soon as possible.

“When average daily temperature falls to 5-7 degrees, it is time to switch to winter tyres, primarily studded ones. Drivers who have not changed their car tyres yet need to do so,” Head of Inspectorate Rifkat Minnikhanov said speaking at a special briefing held at Tatarstan Government House today.

According to him, the delay in changing the tyres could lead to tragic consequences. One instance is a 27-year-old UAZ car driver who crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with a Renault Premium truck on Kuzaikino-Nurlat road in Cheremshan region (Tatartsan) on Tuesday. The driver and his 32-year-old passenger were hospitalised. The driver later died from sustained injuries. Today, he would have turned 28. The car driven by the young man had summer tyres, with four winter studded ones lying in the passenger compartment.

“In winter, both the so-called ‘sticky tyres’ and spiked ones are allowed, but in our area with very low temperatures spiked winter tyres are better,” Rifkat Minnikhanov stated.

“The recommendations are valid for the allowed speed limits. In winter, for a speed of 60 km/h the braking path is 40-50 metres. One needs to make conclusions. It is an axiom. People who try to test it are likely to prove it is correct by getting themselves in an accident,” Rifkat Minnikhanov added.