Heavy Vehicles Accident: Truck crashes on the rise

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Fri, Apr 30, 2010, 08:15 GMT

Heavy Vehicles Accident: Truck crashes on the rise

Accidents claim precious lives and drain the country of resources. While many factors cause crashes an increasing number of incidents involves heavy vehicles. Police list various reasons and drivers defend themselves. While overall awareness of road users must be raised, it all boils down to obeying traffic rules. Abide by the law and the journey will be safe June 8, 2003: A heavy vehicle rams a car, killing one person on Shamal-Al Rams Street in Ras Al Khaimah. June 10, 2003: A tanker driver loses control on Emirates Ring Road and the vehicle bursts into flames. Police battle to extricate two trapped men. The number of fatal crashes involving articulated trucks has increased over the past five months in the emirate. Four people were killed and 34 injured in 23 accidents involving heavy vehicles during the period. Police statistics say the fatalities included 21 drivers, 10 passengers and three pedestrians. Police stress there is a need by the trucking business to clean up its performance, improve safety, professionalism and efficiency. The four operational areas that should be covered by transport companies are vehicle maintenance, driver training, driver health and management systems, says Col. Saif Al Zafin, Deputy Director of the Traffic Department. "Last year, heavy vehicles were involved in 66 accidents or five per cent of total accidents involving fatalities. These killed 20 people or 10.4 per cent of the total deaths from road accidents. "Light trucks were involved in 79 accidents or six per cent of accidents with fatalities. These killed 16 people and injured 118 others." He blames them on speeding which caused 14 accidents, killing six people and injuring 15 others, reckless driving which led to the death of one person and injured eight and entering a road before making sure it is free which caused four deaths and left 31 injured. On accidents involving light trucks, Col. Al Zafin says these are caused by failure to respect other road users, which led to the death of seven people and left 17 injured, speeding which caused four deaths and injured 18 and sudden swerving which caused 12 accidents killing one person and injured 20 others. Col. Al Zafin urges all drivers, especially truck drivers, not to speed and avoid overtaking and changing lanes unless in emergencies. "A truck driver must be well-qualified and trained and the truck must be certified to ply roads. Trucks must meet all safety standards including those relating to tyres, engine and brakes. "Overloading must be avoided unless it is permitted by the Traffic Department. Parking must be in special parking lots, truck drivers must not park on the hard shoulder of roads. In emergency stopping, they should not block passing vehicles because it endangers other road users. "The drivers must also avoid plying internal roads of residential areas unless these areas are the final destination. They must avoid U turn openings in road dividers". Col. Al Zafin advises transport companies to provide driving courses for their drivers and not ask them to work for long hours without rest. "A driver should be well-versed in traffic laws and safety rules. He must know the basics of car engineering to be able to control the vehicle and cope with traffic jams and weather conditions." Lt. Col. Ghaith Hassan Al Zaabi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Licensing Department, says heavy vehicles were involved in 422 accidents, while light vehicles were involved in 139 mishaps last year. Of 947 road accidents in the past five months, heavy vehicles were involved in 114 accidents, killing 10 people. Light vehicles were involved in 45 accidents during the same period.

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Heavy Vehicles Accident: Truck crashes on the rise

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"The number of road accident deaths increased to 80 last year from 70 in the previous year, while the number of those seriously injured increased to 91 from 67 during the same period," he says. In fatal crashes between articulated trucks and other vehicles, the truck driver was at fault in the majority of accidents. Light trucks cause 8.3 per cent of the total number of deaths in road accidents, according to police statistics. Irresponsible Transport companies blame the accidents on drivers. Abdul Salam Ahmed Turkman, Syrian, General Manager of Al Sham Transport Services, says speeding and irresponsible drivers are the main causes of truck accidents. "The speed must not exceed 60 km. Even at 60 km, a driver of a heavy truck needs more than 100 metres to stop. Training is important, but training institutes do not have proper courses for heavy vehicle drivers. One or two months of training are not enough." He suggests stiff penalties be imposed on drivers responsible for road accidents. He adds: "We ask the driver to sign an undertaking to abide by speed limits and other traffic rules. A hefty fine and a prison term may make a driver think twice before violating the law. Training alone is not enough to prevent road accidents." Turkman does not see a need for a truck driver to wear a seatbelt. "A seatbelt may hamper movement of a truck driver, who must look into mirrors at a distance from the cabin." Mohammed Sahfiq, General Manager of Green Line Shipping, Clearing and Forwarding, believes the problem lies with trucks plying in the country and not those travelling abroad. "While most of the fatal accidents occur in the country, trucks on trips to foreign countries meet with accidents caused by burst tyres. This can also be avoided if the driver does not speed. Most accidents are caused by cement mixer trucks which speed to reach construction sites before the concrete solidifies," he says. Shafiq proposes a move currently enforced in Abu Dhabi, prohibiting trucks from overtaking, be applied throughout the country. "The move has helped reduce accidents involving heavy vehicles." He also recommends that trailers of articulated trucks be certified and have special number plates. "Most trailers are nothing but piles of rusted steel and are in a bad shape. These trailers should have a good axis and brake system as well as reflective lights, to mention a few technical specifications which must be met." Ahmed Mohammed Khamis Al Jafla, Manager of Specialist General Land Transport Services, says overland transport companies do not give a deadline for cargo to reach the destination unless they consult the driver. "Our company does not put pressure on its drivers. On the contrary we suggest that they take their time, not to speed and to rest throughout the trip. We also offer training to drivers." Truck drivers think that police and other law enforcement agencies should target not only the driver and the transport firm, but also customers of the trucking business. One driver says his colleagues' faults are: speeding, disrespect for other road users, tailgating, sudden swerving, jumping red lights and overloading. Another driver adds many do not wear seatbelts because they chafe their shoulders on long trips. "Some truck drivers believe only bad drivers should wear seatbelts, others feel seatbelts may hinder leaving the vehicle quickly in case of an accident." According to statistics, UAE nationals accounted for the majority of victims of road accidents last year, both in terms of physical injuries and material damages. They make up 32.5 per cent of the casualties, making them "the biggest losers", according to a study released recently by the Ministry of Planning. It blamed these accidents on reckless driving which caused the death of 562 people. The number of road fatalities in Dubai jumped from 135 in 1992 to 192 in 2002, and the rate of nationals dying in traffic accidents in the emirate also increased from 38 per cent to 42 per cent during the same period. The number of casualties during 2001 increased by 12 per cent compared to 165 in 2000. In 2001, on an average one person was killed every 48 hours in Dubai and one was hurt every four hours. Recommendations by transport firms * Stringent standards to test and license truck drivers. * More inspections of trucks. * Drug and alcohol testing to ensure drivers are free from substance abuse. * Providing defensive driver training and safety seminars for truck drivers. * Providing public education on safety while sharing roads. Gulf News

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Heavy Vehicles Accident: Truck crashes on the rise

http://www.zawya.com/printstory.cfm?storyid=specrep11207P&l=04391...

Article originally published by Gulf News 12-Jul-03

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