UAE | Traffic and Transport
Peak hour truck ban causing jams, claim transport companies
Transport companies say the only way to solve the problem of trucks congesting the city's roads is to lift the truck ban during peak hours.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:10 March 19, 2008
- Motorists say trucks are making their lives a misery as they are creating tailbacks on Sharjah roads.
- Image Credit: Asghar Khan/Gulf News
Sharjah: Transport companies say the only way to solve the problem of trucks congesting the city's roads is to lift the truck ban during peak hours.
The recurring problem of heavy trucks clogging up internal roads in the city, particularly along Al Khan Road and Al Taawun Road, should not be blamed on the companies because they are merely adhering to the rules, they say.
"The problem is mainly due to the fact that trucks are banned from commuting on the roads at certain times, and so they end up starting their journey at the same times and cause bottleneck traffic," said Viju Thomas, Transport Division at the Sharjah-based Indus Transport Company.
The truck ban has been debated by motorists and truck drivers alike. Residents previously urged authorities to extend the ban while transport companies say that it should be removed.
Heavy vehicles have constantly been the reason for tailbacks along Taawun Road, Sharjah Ring Road, the industrial areas leading to the Emirates Road, Damascus Road, Beirut and Al Dhaid Road that passes through Sharjah International Airport.
Thomas said the heavy trucks from his company transport construction goods, such as cement, steel and cables across the country, and confirmed that all the drivers abide by the rules and are well informed about the truck ban during peak hours.
Drivers of heavy vehicles weighing 2.5 tonnes or more have been ordered to stay off Sharjah roads during peak hours or face stiff penalties. The order states that trucks are banned from the roads from 6.30am to 8.30am, 1pm to 3pm and from 5.30pm to 8pm.
However, Thomas added that it is ultimately the driver's decision on what roads to take.
"The driver has to decide which road will be the fastest for him to make the delivery, but they are all aware about the restriction in timings," he said, adding that deliveries regularly start their shift in the morning.
Navin Kumar, operations manager at Al Shola Transport in Fujairah, said that all drivers are informed by the management to drive solely on Emirates Road, "but if they take alternative routes we do not know about it."
He said that the trucks contain cement, and that the main problem with drivers is their need to speed on the roads while driving from one emirate to another.
"We have received 115 fines from Sharjah and Dubai Police because our drivers were caught speeding on the roads," he said.
Abdul Shattar, from Intergulf Transport, said that his drivers mainly commute long distances during the night towards other countries in the Gulf, in addition to Jordan and Syria.
"Our trailers usually leave Sharjah at night to deliver food items because they have a schedule to keep and cannot afford to lose time on the roads. It is important for us to deliver the food as fast as possible so that it will not get rotten," he said.
Ban timings
Dubai
- 6am to 8am
- 1pm to 3pm
- 6pm to 8pm
Sharjah
- 6.30am to 8.30am
- 1pm to 3pm
- 5.30pm to 8pm
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