Dubai: New drivers in Dubai will only be licensed to drive for one year, Gulf News has learnt. And licences will only be renewed as long as new drivers keep clean driving records.
"A driving licence will be issued with one-year validity and will be renewed twice for one year each time before a driver is given a 10-year validity licence," said Engineer Ali Mohammad Al Jasem, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Licensing Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Al Jasem said that renewal of a driving licence issued for one year will be conditional on a new driver's performance on the road.
"A new driver will have to sit for a driving test again or be sent to driving school for more training in case of serious traffic offences, such as jumping red signals, causing serious accidents or accumulating black points as result of other violations," he added.
However, he did not explain the severity of the offences that can prevent licences from being renewed. Currently, the RTA issues a driving licence for 10 years. All other emirates follow the same rule.
Not affected
Al Jasem made it clear that the new rule does not apply to drivers who already hold foreign licences that can be exchanged with the UAE licences over the counter. Those who already have licences will not be affected.
Getting a driving licence in Dubai has become a daunting task as it sometimes takes more than a year to get one, due to a heavy rush of applicants. About 1,000 applicants are tested every working day for new licences.
Al Jasem said the new rule has been approved by the higher authorities in Dubai and will be in place as soon as the RTA gets approval from the federal government.
"The aim is to monitor drivers, reduce road accidents and improve the driving culture, especially rash and careless driving among new and young ones, posing dangers to road users," Al Jasem said.
The new rules are part of the RTA's strategy to improve the licensing system in the emirate.
"We are also introducing driving manuals for learner drivers, trainers and examiners by the end of this year or early next year," Al Jasem said.
Five tests: Complain if you fail
A learner driver can file a complaint with the RTA's Licensing Agency if he fails in the driving tests for at least five times, said Engineer Ali Mohammad Al Jassim, Acting CEO of the Agency.
He said there was a committee of examiners for every driving school and those who are not satisfied with examiners' decision can complain against them but they can do so only after they fail at least five times.
They can call the RTA's toll free number 8009090 or file online complaint on the RTA's website www.rta.ae or can directly go to a RTA supervisor in their respective driving school to file a complaint.
Once the candidate filed the complaint, he or she will be tested by two examiners including a senior examiner. On an average, about 26,000 new drivers are tested every month.
Are you aware of the new rules? Do you think this will help reduce the number of traffic violations? What more can be done to improve the standard of driving? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below to send your comments.
Your comments
I hate to say this, as I am not the perfect driver, but we do need a harsh solution to get people to follow the rules of the road, and cut down on needless deaths.
Enough of this f1 race on the streets.
A 6 month jail sentence, and AED 50,000 minimum fine for reckless driving (+25kph over the limit)should slow people down a bit.
Somene needs to come up with a fromula that puts an end to crazy driving once and for all.
waleed
Dubai,U.A.E>
Posted: August 24, 2008, 11:40
This is an absurd process they are putting in place for people who are responsible drivers and have been driving for decades. I have a GCC licencse even then they failed me for nothing.. the rumour is they fail because they want to make more money for school and RTA.
Khalid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 11:31
This idea sounds very good. But what about the drivers who are dangerous and have already been issued licenses during the lean period (when issuance was not as strict as now). They still remain a threat to themselves and to the lives of others too. I think the A
authorities should think about testing even the present license holders.
Beena
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 09:40
As a new driver I always try to drive safely but sometimes the other vehicles make you so angry and they push you to do some wrong things.
Aqeel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 09:09
I feel this is a good thing to have licences renewed every year, as in some other countries, but I would say new drivers are more careful when driving than the experienced ones, because they show off their driving skills, and end up as reckless drivers, so what if they get their licences renewed every year, after a test. There has to be solution to stop these reckless drivers on the road, not putting new rules for the new learners.
Nizam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 09:07
Let me get this straight, bad drivers who already hold foreign licences that can be exchanged for UAE licences can continue break the law, cause accidents .... ?
Ghazi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 08:50
I don?t really understand what impact the rule is going to make on the roads. A license holder who steps on the road with 1yr or 10yr license could do the same damage. Whether given 1yr or 10yr he/she could kill a person on the road due to incompetent driving skills. Current rules are efficient enough to cancel the licenses instantly or stamping black points depending on the severity of the incident on road and that should take care of things rather than penalising the new drivers irrespective of their driving skills offering only 1yr license across.
Shyam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 08:33
I wish we once read about an action against those abnormal frustrated drivers who come from the back of your car until it is 1 inch close. Obviously they insist to die or get disabled but unfortunately they want to force others to die with them. Almost always, they are the white land cruiser young age drivers. These are the dangerous ones. Anyhow, I excuse RTA because they can educate drivers but they will never be able to do a full psychotherapy for some people.
khaled
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 08:26
This new rule is very appreciative. I think this will reduce road accidents
Anu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 08:09
Why are rules only for new drivers? Who will impose rules on old drivers who are responsible for daily accidents? I think the license renewal system should be imposed on exiting drivers as well !!
kavita
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 08:02
This is a good initiative by the RTA for the issuance of Licence. They should also look into that licensee who comes up for renewal. These conditions should be laid in their case also. They should also be observed and their licence should be renewed if they have a clean record.
Suresh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 24, 2008, 07:07
This is a good law which will further adds difficulties in the life of expatriates. I dont think so that renewal would be an easy process. and one would have to spend 6000 or 7000 if he /she get failed.
some One
Some One,Some One
Posted: August 24, 2008, 06:48
