Dubai: New learner drivers will now have to take night classes to improve their driving skills, said a senior official.
"The night classes at all the major driving institutes have already been started and all the new learner drivers will have to take a few classes at night," said Ali Mohammad Al Jasem, Director of the Licensing Department at the Licensing Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
He said the night classes would be made mandatory for all new drivers.
"We want to make new drivers familiar with different driving conditions to make them safe drivers," he said.
Al Jasem said that the decision to start night driving classes from 7 to 11pm was taken after a successful one-month pilot project in January. But he said there are certain conditions apply.
New drivers must first take day classes and then take a few night classes.
A spokesperson for the Emirates Driving Institute said they have received favourable response from new driving students. "We have already trained some driving instructors to train learner drivers at night and it's being received positively," she said.
She explained that if a new driver takes a 40-class course, he or she will be allowed to take night classes only after completing at least 32 classes during day time.
For a 20-class course, he or she will be allowed to take night classes after 16 day time classes.
Al Jasem, the new driving manual has already been introduced in the driving schools.
"Now the drivers have to go through different training courses suiting their professional needs. Drivers for school buses have to pass additional training courses while truck and bus drivers will also go through the additional training sessions," he added.
He said they have reduced the waiting time for customers at their customer centres by 40 per cent and it will fall further when online services begin. Exams are taken in two to four weeks.
Do you think this is a good decision? Do you face problems driving at night? Do you think this will decrease the number of accidents?
Your comments
Not a good move for residents living in the area. Day time is bad enough,and now we are going to see night traffic in the local vicinity.
Syed
Al Qusais,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 18:27
That deceison will help to those who can't afford time during the day. This will be a good facility to employees who are working in Shift Duties
Mohammad Arif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 17:37
I would request RTA to issue a separate licence to drive 4x4 on Dubai roads. At the time of driving test they use normal sedan cars. And then immediately after getting their licence people start using big 4x4's where they don't have any controllability while truning the vehicles which leads to accidents.
Vijay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 16:57
The decision taken is correct. Yesterday a female driver was in a hurry. I stopped my car on a traffic signal and ended being shouted at that we could have passed. I told her that it was a red singal so I stopped.
Ghulam Brohi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 16:49
i think it's a nice move because it will help in reducing the accidents, the drivers will pay full attention, so it will help the drivers to take care while driving a car.
Ravi Daswani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 16:40
I got my licence a few days before this rule. And I am driving safely and confidently during night hours as well. i think this will add further delay in obatining a licence. And yes, well said by Edong regarding rain and fog classes. I would like to suggest some more steps like tunnel classes, etc.
Adnan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 13:38
It's a good decision as new drivers need to learn about the real experience of driving but it could be hard for girls to attend evening classes as some parents do not really allow.
Sadaf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 13:31
Thanks to the RTA for making night driving training mandatory for new students. Because it can save many people's lives. Again one thing some schools in UAE going through wrong way. i.e. The steps should be to lecture and then drive, not the other way round.
Sushant Dash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 13:12
Definitely this will improve the new drivers' driving skills and signal and road lane follow-ups during the night. It may help to reduce the number of accidents in the night.
Senthil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:51
This is a very good move. But I have one problem also. I am a learner and I have completed my 20 classes and till today I have given four road tests. The first two tests I failed as per my mistake. But the next two tests the examiner failed me wrongly. Now I have done 70 classes, that's paying 50 classes charges extra.
Sonu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:46
This is a good exposure for the new drivers but bear in mind that this doesn't guarantee zero accidents at all. Courtesy and patience would always play a great role in road safety for both new and experienced drivers.
May
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:44
I think it is a good idea for a new driver, it is important to know how to drive in night time. In my view this idea is great
Faisal Raza
Kuala Lampur,Malaysia
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:38
Its is an execellent decision taken by RTA especially for female drivers. This will help a lot in avoiding night accidents and also will help them to learn the driving techniques during night time.
Arun George
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:31
It's very good decision, it has to be given night classes, because most of the people face problem at night.
Shankar Babaleshwar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:13
New learners are not confident to drive during day, how they will they be able to drive during night? A lot of light reflection in the mirror. Finally RTA should give licence to drive only at night hours. So new international grade licence day/night.
Marera
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:02
I think all the issued lisences in the UAE should be reviewed because I think many of the drivers on the Dubai roads are not the most qualified drivers.
Imad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:56
there is no problem for having classes at night in able to decrease the waiting time for the new learner. But the decrease in number of accidents is a big question. The authority must also make a Psychological lesson/exam and also to have a reading exam.
Carlo
Abu Dhabi,Philippines
Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:45
It's very useful of night driving licence to avoid major accidents and also very useful who ever is not able to attend day time classes, lots of thanks to RTA who is approved night classes.
Khadar Mohi Al Deen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:44
This is an excellent step from the RTA towards safe driving and will definitely work for the new learners.
Arman Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:36
It is good but not more than 3 classes. These classes to be held after passing the final examination and before issuance of licence. It should be compulsory because final test is not taken at night.
Tarek Jaafar
Fujairah,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 11:24
Yes, this is a perfect decission taken by the authorities. Especially for the new comers not having experience of night driving in home country. Beside practical situations for all drivers at night.
Furqan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 10:41
Yes, definitely it is a good decission as it will help the new drivers to assess the position of other vehicles. Moreover, for a new driver, parking after the evening will also be comfortable. It will surely decrease number of accidents. Thanks to the concerned authorities to implement such system.
Anjan
Ajman,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 10:29
definitely it is a good decision that will give best confidence to the new drivers. but this will not reduce the accidents. I think once they get licences the drivers may not follow the good rules unless the punishment is quickly executed.
P. Joseph Jeyapragash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 10:21
I dont think so. What is so special about night driving? The main problem I see on the roads is that many people in Dubai drive fast, they tailgate and change lanes dangerously. Lessons concentrating on this will prevent a lot of accidents. Above all, I think many drivers lack patience and courtesy as evident by honking when the light just turns green, not letting other drivers get in if they have missed a turning or want to get into the right lane. So rather than night lessons, give them lessons on courtesy and respect of others on the road.
Khalid Hameed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 10:12
This is a positive move. It will help everyone. Some new drivers using bright lights will effect others. This is one example only and there are many more!
Mohammad Yacoob Ashraf
Kerala,India
Posted: April 14, 2009, 10:00
Yes it's a good thing for everyone because they should have an idea about the driving conditions at night too.
Taher Abbas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:59
If they really want the new drivers to be familiar with different driving conditions, then they might be interested to make it mandatory to have rain class and fog class too.
Edong
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:54
Yes, it will help for new drivers to drive after dark, mostly newcommers are unaware of using lights at night and they disturb other drivers, but by gaining night classes they will be able to learn how to use lights and how to drive after sunset.
Shahzad Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:40
It is a really good decision. No problems. This will definitely reduce the number of accidents at night.
Shair Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:37
To whom it may concern I think it's a good idea. The authorities should train the new drivers to drive on Emirates Road and also Shaikh Zayed Road for at least one hour once the new drivers get the license, so that they will be familiar with roads having five or six lanes.
Redlee
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:37
I think it's a good approach to train the drivers in night conditions as well. Driving does vary at night and can cause problems for new drivers. It's just that I hope the waiting period they keep for starting the classes does reduce as well with all these improvements coming along.
Kazim Chevelwalla
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:23
It will be pretty difficult for the learners who are taking classes near their offices.
Irshad
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Posted: April 14, 2009, 09:16
I think this thing will make it harder to get driving license. I have a work permit for three years. For the last two years I regularly going for tests (more then 10 times) still they did not pass me.
Arif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 08:53
Yeah, this is a very good
decision. It especially helps the beginners from facing any problems while driving at night.
Gibbs
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 08:48
I truly agree with the step, as generally students take classes during the day and test is also taken during the day. But that does not mean the student after getting through the driving test shall drive only in daytime, he may drive at night also.
In order to make night driving also comfortable and this may reduce the accidents that occur at night. But only concern will be that while test driving the roads near by the driving centres will be full even at night?
Prashant Malatkar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 08:17
It's good, very good indeed, I got my driving lessons and had to do that on Fridays only due to my work routine, which cost more than normal days. This will help a lot of people who cannot take classes during the day due to the working hours.
Bilal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 08:01
Of course it's a good decision. Driving during night reqires more attention. Especially for new drivers get taffic signs and views on mirrors would not be conspicuous, hence training is mandatory. This can make sure an easy and comfortable driving eventually safer roads.
Baiju Murathankal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 07:17
Good move. This should have been done years ago.
Airene G.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2009, 02:07
