Abu Dhabi authorities are considering limiting the work time of truck drivers after they found that exhaustion is the main cause of accidents involving large vehicles.
The Department of Transport (DoT) said that most accidents involving heavy duty vehicles in the emirate have been caused by exhaustion and sleepiness of their drivers, adding that such accidents have caused large numbers of casualties.
In a study published in a new transport guide in the emirate, DoT said: ”Consultations are underway to limit the number of hours for truck drivers’ work so they will not driver their vehicles while feeling sleepy or exhausted.”
It added: “Studies have shown that lack of sleep by truck drivers is the main cause of road accidents in the country…the studies found that drowsiness seriously affects people’s ability to take the right decisions.”
The study said a decision about the number of truck drivers’ work hours will be included in federal traffic laws so it will be enforced by the police.
It said truck companies and those who supervise drivers must play a key role in preventing such accidents by “better managing the work time for the drivers.”
