Dubai panel to probe learner drivers' failures

Dubai: Learner drivers who fail their driving test at least three times can now appeal against the decision, said a senior official.

"We have set up a committee to look into the cases of learner drivers, who fail their test a number of times," said Ahmad Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Licensing Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

He said that people would be able to appeal if they fail their driving test at least three times. Also they have the right to appeal if they feel that they have been tested wrongly or have any other complaints against the examiners or trainers.

"The committee will review their applications and investigate the issue. They will be tested by two or more examiners to check whether they qualify to get a driving licence. If they do, they will be given a licence," Bahrozyan told Gulf News.

Learner drivers have been complaining that they were failed because the RTA does not want more drivers on the road as part of its policy to reduce traffic congestion.

"There is no such policy but rather it may be the result of the individual behaviour of examiners," he noted.

The current pass ratio of learner drivers is just 18 to 20 per cent. "We want to increase it to 40 to 50 per cent and we are working with our examiners and are in the process of standardising the training and testing system so that everyone has to pass through the same procedure," he added.

People intending to get a driving licence have to wait for months to even start training while at least two months just to get a date to take the driving test.

"Earlier, driving schools provided training and also conducted the test and thus the pass ratio was very high but since the RTA has taken over the testing part, the passing ratio has dropped," he said.

Bahrozyan said the licensing agency, once the new system is in place, would also hold trainers responsible learner drivers training by him fail frequently. "We will ask the driving institute to take action and train its trainer."

A total of 156,974 driving licences were issued in 2006 with an average of 430 licences every day but the number of licences issued in 2007 reduced to almost 50 per cent after the RTA started testing drivers.

Only 87,825 licences were issued in 2007 with an average of 240 licences every day.

Log your complaint

Learner drivers who fail driving tests, can appeal against the decision by filing a complaint on the RTA's website www.rta.ae, call customer service number 8009090 or go to any Licensing Agency office to file an appeal.

The complaint will be referred to the committee, which investigate and take action.

CEO at Licensing Agency, RTA

The Licensing Agency will soon introduce the appointment system for learner drivers for their driving tests," said a senior official.

"We are currently working on the system to introduce an appointment system for testing learner drivers to save their time," said Bahrozyan.

Currently, hundreds of learner drivers, who have to appear for driving tests, are called at the same time (at 8 am) and made to wait for hours to take their turn.

"We don't want people to wait and waste their time. Once the system is in place, they will be required to come for testing as per their appointment," he said.