The first motorway rest area for lorries has opened on Emirates Road in Dubai.
Situated about five kilometres before the exit to Al Ain, it is in the direction of Sharjah and can accommodate 30 lorries.
There will eventually be 24 rest stops across the emirate, which will have medical clinics, shops and petrol facilities.
Maitha bin Udai, chief executive of the RTA’s traffic and roads agency, said the rest areas were part of the plan to improve road safety across the emirate.
“The opening of the first truck stops is part of the traffic safety plan set for highways, the implementation of which started at the end of last year and continues up to 2016 encompassing the construction of several truck stops and restrooms.”
The facilities also include hotel rooms, petrol stations, medical clinic, shops and maintenance services.
The second rest area to open is located in both directions of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road near Dubai International City and the third is located near near the Jebel Ali water treatment plant off Dubai bypass.
Ms bin Udai said that human error accounted for about 85 per cent of traffic accidents and the efforts of all public and private institutions were needed to raise the awareness of road users, particularly drivers of lorries and buses.
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