Dubai When it comes to getting a driving licence in Dubai, Emiratis are the fastest and Asians the slowest — the slowest being an Indian who took 192 classes and 20 attempts to clear his test, a top official told XPRESS.
Hussain Ali Al Saffar, Director, Drivers Training and Qualification at the Licensing Department of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on average an Emirati passes a road test in one or two attempts while an Asian takes up to five attempts
Europeans are the best drivers he said.
He said the overall passing rate has vastly improved, especially after a unified curriculum introduced changes in the quality of training for light motor vehicle drivers. “We have made the training more rigid, structured and demanding by adding more maneouvres and skills. You now need to be more competent before you can get a driver’s licence. But at the same time, the passing rate has improved. Students used to pass the road test in their fifth attempt earlier. Now, the average passing rate is in the third attempt, usually after 56 classes.”
He said the slowest learner by far in Dubai is an Indian resident who took 192 classes and 20 attempts at road tests before getting his licence in 2010. He was followed by a Pakistani who took 184 classes and 19 attempts. Both took over three years.
Emiratis and Asians cough up the maximum number of fines while Europeans get the least fines in any year, he said, adding, “Europeans are the best drivers.”
Al Al Saffar said RTA issued 98,719 licences in 2011 against 103,000 applications received. “On average, we get around 8,000 requests every month, 75 per cent of which are for light motor vehicles.”
He came down on views expressed in some quarters that a licence was a money-making tool for the RTA. “Our aim is to nurture safe drivers, not generate revenue. Our tariff structures are among the lowest in the world: Dh200 for opening a training file (light motor vehicle), Dh100 for issuing a learning permit, Dh220 each for a knowledge test and practical test and Dh50 for the driver’s handbook,” he said, adding that these charges are collected by the school on RTA’s behalf.
But in the same regular light motor vehicle category, the five driving schools in Dubai — two more are to be licensed soon — charge anywhere between Dh2,000 and Dh2,400 for the prescribed minimum of 40 practical classes and eight theory lectures.
Al Al Saffar said, “We’ve been in discussion with driving schools and formed a joint committee to look into various issues. They have been very co-operative and have reduced their rates over the last three years — from Dh90 to Dh100 per class earlier to Dh50 to Dh60 now.”
Al Saffar said RTA has also reduced the waiting time between road tests. “If you’ve failed in your first attempt, you can make the second attempt within 14 days.”
He said while learners from countries other than those with which the UAE has a direct licence exchange agreement must go through a minimum of 40 practical classes (in addition to eight theory lectures), schools do allow concessions. “Those with five years of experience in their home countries can take only 20 classes, while those with three-five years of experience can take 30 classes.”
Al Saffar said Emiratis could use their UAE licences to get licences in select countries where the UAE has a direct exchange agreement.
