The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Monday attributed most road accidents in the country to the use of fake and expired tyres by vehicle owners.

Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, the Cross River Sector Commander of FRSC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Monday that fake and expired tyres were responsible for more than 3,000 road crashes in the last five years.

He expressed regrets that most Nigerians still prefer used tyres in spite of the regular sensitisation campaign carried out by the commission on the need to stop purchase of fake and expired tyres.

“The FRSC would not relent in its sensitisation campaign with a view to educating car owners on the dangers of patronising fake and expired tyres.

“Fake and expired tyres are responsible for most road accidents in the country today; there is a need for drivers to stop buying such tyres.

“We will intensify efforts in collaboration with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to raid outlets that trades in fake and expired tyres,’’ he said.

He advised car owners to always check the expiry date of any tyre they intended to buy, saying that such checks would prevent them from buying fake ones.