Car fires have been reported on Thika Superhighway, leaving many motorists puzzled. According to experts, these incidents can be prevented.
Toyotsu Automart Kenya Managing Director Daisuke Toyooka explained that car fires are majorly caused by fuel leaks or short circuits of the battery, battery terminal, or electric wires of the vehicle.
Other causes include waste clothes used during maintenance, stained with fuel, which can cause a fire if accidentally left under the bonnet.
Key Components to Check ¶
Knowing the entire motor vehicle dynamics is hard, but arming oneself with information about key components can be helpful. Drivers can check if the battery terminal is fixed on the battery properly and if there is a caution lamp on the dashboard.
Toyooka advised avoiding entrusting one's car to untrained technicians. He said, "There are so many electric items in a car, but drivers can at least check...if there is a caution lamp on the dashboard as well as avoiding entrusting your car to untrained technician."
High Speed Limits and Fire Risk ¶
High speed limits on the superhighway make all car components heat up much faster, increasing the fire risk in case of any pre-existing faults.
Care should be taken when taking a car for maintenance to ensure it is handled by professionals, as any car has the potential of bursting into flames due to the combination of fuel and spark from electrical parts.
Prevention and Response ¶
- Pre-inspection checks before purchasing a vehicle can help identify potential issues.
- Regular service maintenance, preferably after every 5000km, lowers the risks of car fires.
- In case of a fire accident, stop the car safely, turn off the engine, and get everyone out of the car and move a distance from the burning vehicle.
- Alert everyone around and contact the fire brigade while using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
The recovered account cited reporting by Nairobi News.
