ABU DHABI // Experts are divided over the effectiveness of new technology that aims to make it easier to overtake lorries.
The technology involves fitting cameras to the front of lorries and mounting video screens on the back so motorists can see the road ahead.
Bauyrzhan Yelshiyev, 24, a Dubai resident from Kazakhstan, proposed the concept after a challenge by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to come up with ideas to improve road safety. The RTA hopes to tap the creativity of university students to improve safety.
Mr Yelshiyev said he often found it difficult to overtake semi-trailers on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (previously Emirates Road), Al Khail Road, and the road leading to Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
“There have been discussions in my country about this solution, and I think it would be great to have it here,” he said. “If introduced, it will highlight the innovative attitude of Dubai and it will make driving easier and safer alongside trucks and semi-trailers.”
Michael Dreznes, executive vice-president at the International Road Federation (IRF), said the concept was introduced by Samsung in Argentina last year. The vehicle, which it called “Safety Truck”, allows drivers to make more informed decisions when deciding to overtake.
“IRF does promote and publicise this technology during our training programmes,” he said. “The concept makes sense, especially on rural two-lane roads without median barriers where a vehicle passing the truck could be exposed to head-on crashes. [These] are typically the most violent crashes and every effort should be made to reduce or eliminate them.”
Glenn Havinoviski, associate vice president of the US traffic management company Iteris, said video screens on lorries could distract the following driver from what is going on.
“I think the better option would be equipping all vehicles with wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communications so that an alert from one vehicle is transmitted to the other vehicles behind him,” he said.
“That is the emerging technology and will allow automated collision warning and braking systems to be operated, or provide a warning to the driver to slow down or carefully move away from the vehicles in front.”
The high cost of putting cameras and video screens on lorries would make it an impractical solution said Roshanara Sait, director of Ciel Marketing and Events, which organises road safety awareness campaigns.
Lorries need to stay in the right two or three lanes, depending on the road, and small vehicles should not follow them closely, Mr Havinoviski said.
“A rule of thumb published by the government of Queensland in Australia is a car should follow at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front, adding one second for every 3m of trailer length,” he said. “So for a typical tractor-trailer combination, which may be 16 to 18 metres in length, it is recommended that a driver follows at least seven or more seconds behind it.”
Mr Dreznes also urged caution when overtaking lorries.
“Drivers also must understand that trucks have blind spots and they must be careful when passing trucks,” he said.
Strong enforcement of the law and constant awareness campaigns could help to improve the situation, Ms Sait said.
“There are drivers who seem oblivious to road rules and others who are ignorant of the rules,” she said. “Both pose great danger to all other road users.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
