Poor maintenance, tyre defects and unsafe driving among leading causes of heavy truck crashes.
Dubai: Heavy trucks were involved in 1,136 traffic accidents across the UAE between 2022 and 2025, with crashes rising significantly over the period and reaching a four-year high of 332 incidents in 2024, according to Ministry of Interior data.
Truck-related accidents remained elevated in 2025, with 325 incidents recorded nationwide, representing only a slight decline from the previous year’s peak.
Annual heavy truck accident figures
• 2022: 208 accidents
• 2023: 271 accidents
• 2024: 332 accidents
• 2025: 325 accidents
• Total: 1,136 accidents
Poor maintenance among key causes
Poor vehicle maintenance, including tyre-related problems and other safety defects, was among the factors linked to heavy truck accidents, according to Ministry of Interior data.
With heavy trucks covering long distances, spending extended hours on the road and transporting substantial loads, authorities have emphasised the need for regular inspections and proper maintenance to ensure vehicles remain roadworthy and safe.
Risky driving
Unsafe driving behaviour was also identified as a contributing factor in heavy-truck accidents, including collisions involving drivers of light vehicles attempting to overtake slower-moving trucks.
Motorists are advised to maintain a safe following distance, exercise caution when overtaking and avoid sudden lane changes or other abrupt manoeuvres around heavy vehicles.
Awareness campaigns
Traffic and Patrol Departments across the UAE continue to conduct road safety campaigns aimed at heavy truck drivers as well as other motorists.
The initiatives focus on encouraging compliance with traffic regulations, promoting safer driving practices and ensuring proper vehicle maintenance. Authorities also carry out inspections and take action against vehicles and drivers that fail to meet required safety standards.
These measures form part of broader efforts to enhance road safety, reduce traffic accidents and encourage responsible driving among both truck operators and private motorists.
