25 August 2012

Number of registered trailers is expected to hit 3700 by the end of 2012

The Roads & Transport Authority - Mohammed Al Munji: H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that the system of registering trailers and semi-trailers instituted by the RTA last February proved successful, with the number of registered trailers during the period from February till the end of July this year clocked 1684 trailers. Al Tayer indicated that the number of trailers (Chassis) registered during the same period hit 2259, adding that the number is expected to rise to as much as 3700 trailers by the end of this year, noting that the estimated number of trailers in Dubai exceeded 60 thousand trailers.

"Trailers have been classified into 15 types most notably flatbed trailers, surface trailers, side-curtain trailers, container trailers, tanker trailers, passenger transport trailers, and petroleum products transport trailers among others. Trailers testing & registration service is currently available at three centers, namely ENOC, Tamam Al Ghandi, and Al Shirawi Center," explained Al Tayer.

"Trailers and Semi-trailers registration service is part of RTA efforts and commitment to ensure the safety of road users, safeguard the rights of owners of these trailers, and verify that security & traffic safety stipulations are well adhered to in all trailers plying the streets of the UAE, often triggering accidents resulting in huge loss of lives & properties.

"In view of the lacking registration of trailers in the past, many trailers-related accidents used to be registered as accidents caused by ordinary vehicles, without mentioning trailers. The current situation contributed to accidents of stealing trailers rendering it extremely difficult to establish the rights of the affected parties due to the lacking proof of ownership or identity of trailers. Moreover, all trailers produced locally bear no Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) in their Chassis," elaborated Al Tayer.

He added that the new system catered to the testing & registration of trailers and semi-trailers in line with sound technical specifications & standards that address the security & traffic safety aspects. Observations made by RTA inspectors and examiners on trailers could be summarized in serious tire defects, body cracks, defects in connections between the tractor & trailer, defects in the air pressure connections of the brake systems, and poor side & rear lighting of trailers, stated Al Tayer, stressing that such flaws had the potentials of causing accidents resulting in casualties among road users," explained Al Tayer.

"RTA has already coordinated its move with the Ministry of Interior prior to the implementation of this trailers testing & licensing system. Consideration is now given to implementing the system at the federal level, and coordination is in hand with several government departments and agencies in the Emirate of Dubai, such as Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation, to urge truck owners to take the initiative of registering their trailers in the system," said RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director in a closing remark.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2012