A car moves in between trucks and heavy vehicles on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road in Dubai. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Dubai: The roads in Dubai are set to become safer as trucks drivers will have their driving behavior supervised at all times.

On Sunday, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the start of the mandatory phase for the installation of remote monitoring devices to detect faults in heavy trucks that have completed more than 20 years in service.

“The service has a feature of monitoring the number of driving hours and attitudes of heavy vehicle drivers on roads, such as reckless driving, sudden braking, dangerous acceleration, over speeding, traffic accidents and driving in prohibited timing or places, among others,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, chief executive officer at the RTA’s Licensing Agency.

The new phase will start on August 1, 2017 at the Vehicles Safety Service Centre, which was launched last February at the Jebel Ali Free Zone.  

“The mandatory phase follows the elective phase for the installation of the remote monitoring devices that expires [on Monday],” he said.

“Transportation firms are now obliged to fit heavy vehicles, which have more than 20 years in service, with a Telematics Device upon the renewal of their registration or applying for new licenses. The service would be running 24/7, and it is even possible to deliver the service at the sites of fleet operators and transport companies through mobile units.”

Application for the service is open through RTA website (www.rta.ae), customers’ service centre - vehicles safety service (60056000), email (vss.support@dt.ae) or visiting the Vehicles Safety Service Center at JAFZA.

The total cost of the service is Dh1,620 including Dh500 as an annual subscription fee.

“The service targets all heavy vehicles licensed in Dubai and the implementation comprises three phases. The results of the initial phase would be shared with the Federal Traffic Council for considering the implementation of the system across the nation,” he said.