Stricter testing of lorry drivers urged

Refresher courses also called for to ensure professional approach over driving commercial vehicles in the UAE.

ABU DHABI // Vocational training and refresher courses should be mandatory for drivers of heavy goods vehicles to maintain high standards of driving and keep the roads safe, experts say.

“Most of the drivers working in the UAE’s logistics and transport sector are expatriates from Asian countries, and unfortunately they are not given the necessary language and vocational training to be prepared and certified,” said Alex Borg, a managing consultant of Supply and Support Management Group, which has offices in the UAE and the UK.

“They face long hours and very poor working conditions so it would be a valuable idea to introduce the driver certificate of professional competence, or CPC, and a refresher course every three years.”

In Europe, the CPC certification is a standard part of professional driving for those operating a lorry, bus or coach. It is a set of standards applied to initial driver training to ensure all professionals are proficient.

“Through this programme, the local authorities here will make sure all drivers have the knowledge and skills to work as drivers and to keep themselves updated,” Mr Borg said.

Michael Dreznes, executive vice president at the International Road Federation, agreed.

“Commercial drivers are professional drivers, and that means they need to function at a certain skill level to maintain their status,” said Mr Dreznes.

“Proper, formal initial testing is critical to assure drivers are proficient on the road. Do they know how to operate the vehicle they are driving? Do they know how to respond in case of a vehicle failure? Do they understand the rules of the road? Can they read English or Arabic to understand signs? Do they understand the dangers of speeding as well as distracted and fatigued driving?

“If they do not understand these, they are doomed to ultimately make a mistake, resulting in dangers to not only themselves, but to other road users.”

Efforts must be made to ensure the drivers obtain licences through the proper channels.

“Unfortunately this is not always the case, and unqualified drivers are put on the road. Driving a heavy vehicle requires a real skill,” Mr Dreznes said.

“Driving without this skill level is a recipe for disaster. These drivers should be at least be tested every three years to confirm their driving proficiency, and to ensure they are physically fit to continue to drive a commercial vehicle.”

School bus accidents that led to serious injuries have highlighted the need for drivers to undergo mandatory training and certification, said Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE.

“Also, trucks can pose serious danger on roads and motorways, particularly those carrying dangerous goods,” he said.

Driver fatigue, long driving hours, a loss of concentration, and poor tyre condition are the main causes of road accidents involving commercial vehicles.

“We need the proper legal framework with a maximum working and driving time,” Mr Edelmann said. “We also need fleet operators with good commercial driver policies to share those with the broader business community.”