• Truck accidents often caused by trailer issues
• New RTA driving license requirements for articulated truck/trailer combination
• Education & Technology vital to improve the situation
• Multi-stakeholder conference to discuss critical issues of truck trailer safety
United Arab Emirates, 21 March 2018, (AETOSWire): On 15th March 2018, the ‘first-ever’ UAE Truck Trailer Safety Conference took place in Dubai, organized by WABCO and supported by Dubai Police and RoadSafetyUAE. The speakers included Dubai Police, RTA, WABCO, RoadSafetyUAE, Dubai Driving Center, Gorica, Gotrade, VOLVO and Continental.
Truck accidents are to a big part caused by trailer issues like trailers tipping in curves due to driver errors, trailer tire bursts, faulty trailer braking systems, poorly maintained, old or technically unfit truck trailers. According to data presented at the event by Dubai Police, 73 serious accidents involving trucks were recorded in 2017 (vs. 99 in 2016), resulting in 14 fatalities (vs. 36 in 2016) and 109 injuries (vs. 187 in 2016). While the 2017 trends are very positive, truck and truck trailer safety remain an area of focus.
Sherif El-Sheikh, WABCO Regional Leader - Middle East and Africa states: “As a leading global technology company, WABCO is committed to advanced vehicle and driver safety to reduce the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles. We offer an unrivalled range of technology solutions to improve truck and trailer safety and, by joining RoadSafetyUAE’s platform, we are proud to underline our commitment to helping improve road safety and supporting the important objectives of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’.”
Thomas Edelmann, Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE, adds: “We wanted to create a new platform for the important topic of truck trailer safety by launching a multi-stakeholder event. The event was attended by representatives of governmental entities, the media, truck trailer safety related brands, driving schools, fleet operators and other influencers with regards to truck trailer safety. We need to create a common understanding of the burning issues of truck trailer safety and how we can overcome these.”
Mr. El-Sheikh continues: “A great deal of positive progress has been made at the regulatory level. This includes the RTA requirements adding important articulated truck/trailer education to theoretical and practical driving training. Enhanced driver training and a greater general awareness of truck trailer safety are fundamentally important for the industry and, while continuing to meet rising demand for trailer safety solutions, WABCO is committed to playing its part as a pioneering technology leader.”
WABCO recently became the patron of the ‘Truck Trailer Safety’ section on RoadSafetyUAE’s CSR & Activation platform http://www.roadsafetyuae.com/truck-trailer-safety/. The page provides useful and important tips & tricks for drivers and fleet operators with regards to truck trailer safety and can be freely referenced.