Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has recently completed a series of awareness and inspection campaigns targeting truck drivers in the emirate. The campaigns were run by the Licensing Activities Department at the Licensing Agency in coordination with the Traffic Department at the Traffic and Roads Agency, and the Drivers’ Licensing Department at the Licensing Agency RTA in collaboration with the Dubai Police General HQ.

The campaigns aimed to stress the importance of holding the required professional permits issued by the RTA based on Resolution No. (57) of 2017 issued by the Executive Council of Dubai.

The campaign benefited 1,000 heavy vehicle drivers, which is a 100 percent increase compared to the 500 drivers reached in 2022. There was also a notable surge in demand for services related to issuing professional permits for new heavy vehicle drivers and renewing permits for existing drivers as well. In 2023, the number of applications for new permits and permit renewals exceeded 10,000 applications compared to 4,135 applications received during the same period in 2022, representing a 60 percent increase. These campaigns were primarily focused on key areas in the emirate, including Ras Al Khor Road, Emirates Road, Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Dubai-Al Ain Road, Al Maktoum Road, and Al Khail Road.

The campaign was a testament to RTA’s third strategic goal (Health, Safety and Security). It aimed to realise the leadership vision to achieve the highest levels of traffic safety for all road users to maintain their security and safety by verifying the eligibility of this segment of drivers and their health and fitness to drive. The process contributes to enhancing traffic safety, adhering to traffic rules, and meeting the requirements for safe driving on roads.

The awareness campaigns focused on explaining the steps needed to obtain a professional permit to practice the profession, the channels available for applying to the service, and the process of objecting to violations. Drivers were briefed on the importance of adhering to the technical requirements for the safety of heavy vehicles in addition to the security and safety requirements of driving on roads.

Reviewing the historical data and statistics of applications for new professional permits or renewing the existing ones, it was evident that there has been an increase in both types of permits since the launch of the monitoring and inspection campaigns at the beginning of this year. Such an increase is also reflective of the rapid growth in commercial transport activities and the economic growth experienced by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular.

Holding this sort of campaign is in line with RTA’s strategic plans implemented throughout the year in the context of its standing commitment to spreading traffic awareness and traffic safety. These campaigns educated drivers about the need to comply with the technical standards and traffic safety requirements for driving trucks, especially in the summer. The campaigns contribute to RTA’s objectives to enhance transportation safety and make roads safer in line with the leadership’s vision to achieve the highest levels of traffic safety and the safety of all road users.