Abu Dhabi: The executive regulations of the UAE Federal Traffic Law, which come into effect in January, 2027, have tightened requirements for heavy vehicle drivers, setting out six obligations aimed at improving road safety.
Article 31 requires heavy vehicle drivers to remain on the right side of the road and leave it only when necessary or when overtaking. Drivers must also ensure that their vehicles do not exceed the load or height permitted by the licensing authority.
Passengers may not be transported in heavy vehicles, except for the vehicle owner's employees and loading and unloading workers where designated seats are provided.
Drivers must also ensure that their loads do not endanger the public or obstruct traffic. Loads must be covered to prevent dust and materials such as sand from leaking or scattering, and must not protrude beyond the vehicle's boundaries.
The Ministry of Interior has also specified 11 traffic violations for heavy vehicles and their corresponding penalties under Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 concerning traffic control rules and procedures.
Penalties range from fines and traffic points to vehicle impoundment and a one-year driving licence suspension.
According to the Ministry, the most severe penalties apply in two cases, each carrying a Dh3,000 fine and a one-year driving licence suspension from the date the licence is confiscated.
These apply when a heavy vehicle driver causes an accident resulting in damage to their vehicle or another vehicle, and when a truck driver overtakes in a prohibited area.
A Dh3,000 fine and 12 traffic points apply when objects leak or fall from the load of a heavy vehicle.
A Dh3,000 fine, without traffic points, also applies when a truck's load is not covered.