The first-ever UAE Truck Trailer Safety Conference has taken place in Dubai on 15 March 2018, focusing on the road safety and initiatives in the region
Organised by WABCO and supported by Dubai Police and RoadSafetyUAE, the conference was attended by representatives from Dubai Police, RTA, WABCO, RoadSafetyUAE, Dubai Driving Centre, Gorica, Gotrade, VOLVO and Continental.
Truck accidents are mostly 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, resulting in 14 fatalities and 109 injuries. While the 2017 trends are very positive, truck and truck trailer safety remains an area of focus.
Sherif El-Sheikh, regional leader at WABCO for the Middle East and Africa, stated, “As a leading global technology company, WABCO is committed to an 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 aim to underline our commitment to helping improve road safety and supporting the important objectives of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’.”
El-Sheikh continued, “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,” he further added.
Thomas Edelmann, managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, added, “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.”