RTA Records 20% Drop in Truck-Related Traffic Incidents in Dubai in 2025

Implementing Quality-Driven Initiatives to Enhance Safety

• 30 awareness campaigns targeted freight companies and truck drivers in 2025
• 14 truck rest areas established at six strategic locations and roads in Dubai
• 70% reduction in truck movement permits issued during restricted hours

Dubai. Roads and Transport Authority. 23^rd April 2025:

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported record results in 2025, including a 20% reduction in truck-related traffic incidents in the Emirate of Dubai. This reflects the impact of RTA’s integrated efforts to strengthen road safety and develop the infrastructure and regulatory systems governing the logistics transport sector, in support of competitiveness, long-term sustainability, and the highest safety standards.

As part of these efforts, RTA implemented three targeted initiatives in the truck sector to enhance road safety and improve the efficiency of logistics transport services. The logistics transport sector remains a key pillar of economic growth, reinforcing the emirate’s competitiveness, given its central role in ensuring the smooth movement of goods and the efficiency of supply chains.

RTA’s initiatives focused on addressing operational challenges and proactively raising safety levels. These included the installation of rear safety barriers on trucks to reduce the severity of collisions and enhance protection for road users, as well as specialised development and training programmes for drivers and operators to strengthen their technical and behavioural competence and step-up compliance with best operational practices. In addition, RTA enhanced a rapid response framework to prevent broken-down trucks from stopping on main roads and ensure their immediate removal, thereby supporting smoother traffic flow and helping to reduce incidents.

RTA organised over 30 awareness campaigns in 2025 targeting freight companies and truck drivers as part of its efforts to strengthen road safety and raise awareness among road users, with the aim of curbing unsafe behaviours that remain among the leading causes of traffic incidents. The campaigns focused on risky driving practices such as sudden lane departure, failure to leave a sufficient safe distance, failure to give way to other vehicles, and reversing without due attention, all of which pose direct risks to road safety and traffic flow.

RTA used a range of tools and channels to deliver these campaigns and ensure that awareness messages reached the various groups within the logistics transport sector. These included the distribution of guidance materials in several languages to reflect the diversity of nationalities employed in the sector, alongside targeted campaigns delivered through traditional media, digital platforms, and social media channels. This diversified approach helped broaden the campaigns’ reach, strengthen the effectiveness of their messages, raise compliance with traffic laws and regulations, and reinforce a culture of safe driving among truck drivers.

RTA designated 14 truck rest areas at six vital locations, strategic roads, and logistics cities as part of efforts to enhance traffic flow and improve safety on the road network. This helped achieve a better balance in the distribution of truck traffic along alternative routes, with a positive effect on overall traffic efficiency. It also led to a 70% reduction in the issuance of movement permits during restricted hours in 2025 compared with 2024, resulting in higher levels of compliance with the new regulatory measures.

RTA also carried out inspection campaigns targeting random truck parking on main roads and under bridges in key areas of the emirate, to address violations and curb practices that obstruct traffic flow and endanger road users. In parallel, technical inspections increased by 8% in 2025 through joint night patrols to verify the safety of trailers, tyres, and rear lights, and to ensure compliance with regulations and traffic safety requirements across the road network.