SASO Concludes its Workshops on Under-Run Protection Devices in Trucks
SASO concluded the events of the specialized workshops discussing the Saudi technical regulations for under-run protection devices for trucks and trailers and the application mechanism. SASO has organized three workshops in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, attended by a group of experts and interested parties. Workshops included extensive discussions about the technical regulations NO. SASO GSO 2112: 2012, SASO GSO 2113: 2012 and SASO GSO 2114: 2012 specialized in front, rear and side under-run protection devices in trucks and trailer, issued by SASO.
For his part, the Governor of SASO Dr. Saad bin Othman Kassabi, assured in a speech, delivered on his behalf by Eng. Abdullah Al Qahtani, Deputy Governor of the Standards and Laboratories Department, that safety means in transport vehicles such as trucks, trailers and small cars is one of the most issues that citizens, competent and concerned authorities have great interest in. This is in light of the estimates which indicate that the Kingdom hosts about two million trucks and trailers, in addition to growth expectations in the trucks and trailers' market in the Kingdom by 8.4% per annum.
He continued by saying, SASO issued three obligatory technical regulations for front rear and side under-run protection devices in new trucks and trailer. We have begun the first stage of implementation, this year 2015, the application has entered its first stage with new imported trucks and locomotives and new imported trailers. In cooperation with concerned parties, the application plan has been approved in several stages, and it included old imported trucks, locomotives and trailers, in addition to trucks transporting hazardous materials, starting from 01/01/1437 AH. Public transport locomotives and trailers (fleets) will start from 01/04/1437AH, while trucks, locomotives and trailers crossing the Kingdom and private sector trucks, locomotives and trailers will start from 01/07/1437 AH.
He also revealed the updated technical regulations for the general requirements of car safety. Abiding to these regulations has been compulsory by putting reflective "fluorescent" tapes on the sides of the trucks and goods transport vehicles in general. All 2017 models will have to adhere to it, God willing.
He stressed that there is constant coordination with many of the relevant authorities to work on the effective application of these regulations, so that it becomes based on scientific and technical grounds to achieve the goal. He pointed that SASO is working on preparing and educating bodies participating in the application, whether it was governmental bodies, manufacturers, importers, truck owners, companies, technical workshops and other bodies, about the importance of these means in providing security, in addition to ensuring familiarity with technical issues such as the design of under-run protection devices, the manufacturing materials, sizes, ways of manufacturing, and other technical aspects.
He noted that SASO has issued 102 technical regulations and 480 Saudi Automotive Standard. When issuing these technical regulations and standards, SASO has referred to the latest global technical regulations in industrially developed countries, such as the US Federal Regulations, as well as the technical regulations issued by the European Economic Commission (WP 29), which all industrialized countries work to comply with.
He concluded by stressing that SASO is keenon all matters relating to the safety of the consumer and the environment, and that this is its main strategic goal.