ABU DHABI // Lorry drivers should be better educated on the dangers of speeding or driving while tired.
Stricter enforcement of laws is crucial to reducing fatal accidents and those that cause severe injuries, said speakers at an Abu Dhabi Police workshop this week.
The commercial vehicles industry has a vital role to play in improving road safety, said Richard Hall, regional sales manager for lorry and bus maker Man.
“It’s rather obvious that when trucks crash the results are usually catastrophic in terms of lives and loss of injuries,” Mr Hall said.
"We're here to support introduction of road transport governance regulators and to educate transport operators and police."
Mr Hall said he supported the introduction and enforcement of mandatory specifications for lorries and buses.
He said the quality of the tyres and brakes, load, driver alertness and the quality of maintenance and repairs all affected how much road space a heavy vehicle needed to come to a complete stop.
Fatigue is a cause of many accidents because, unlike in Europe, there is no maximum time for lorry drivers in the region, said Franz Freiherr von Redwitz, managing director of Man.
In Abu Dhabi, the maximum driving time for each shift varies from 8 to 10 hours, while the minimum daily rest varies from 8 to 12 hours, a 2014 study by the Department of Transport shows.
“Drivers in the region drive far too long in one stretch and are therefore very tired,” Mr von Redwitz said. “A tired driver behind the wheel can turn a very safe and modern truck into a dangerous or hazardous truck.”
Ensuring drivers were not distracted is also an issue, but there is only so much a manufacturer can do, said Igor Hopkin, an independent safety consultant.
Mr Hopkin said it was up to lorry operators to make sure there were safety measures in place, through driving hours or awareness training.
The event was organised by Man Truck and Bus Middle East and Road Safety UAE.
“The UAE Government is taking a very brave step towards reducing the number of traffic deaths,” said Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE. “Everyone is responsible in helping the UAE to achieve that goal.”
“The most common reasons for these accidents are speeding, the lack of space between vehicles, and inattention.”
Police statistics show that lorries were responsible for 6 per cent of the serious accidents, and 16 per cent of the road deaths in the emirate.
“A bus or a truck driver is responsible for so many lives,” Mr Edelmann said. “It’s all about taking responsibility to improve the situation through the three main Es of road safety: education, enforcement and engineering.”
The workshop was organised as part of the Ministry of Interior’s plan to reduce road deaths from six for every 100,000 people at present to none by 2030.
This year, The National has reported on 15 major accidents involving lorries, which caused 17 deaths.
rruiz@thenational.ae