Dubai: The Ministry of Interior is currently studying a proposal made by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) for new drivers to have a ‘New Driver’ sticker on their cars.
The RTA has introduced the sticker for all new drivers in Dubai, but it is not yet mandatory.
“We have issued the ‘new driver’ stickers, which new drivers, once they get licences, can buy from driving schools. The ordinary sticker is worth Dh5 and the magnetic one Dh15. However, it is not mandatory right now,” said Sultan Al Marzouqi, Director of Driver’s Licensing at RTA’s Licensing Agency.
According to Al Marzouqi, most new drivers want to have the stickers on their cars as this would alert other drivers to be patient and cautious.
“We carried out a survey among new drivers and we found that most of the new drivers want to have the stickers on their cars. They believe that the stickers will protect them from being bothered by experienced drivers,” added Al Marzouqi
Explaining the concept further, Al Marzouqi said that the stickers will help create awareness among older motorists.
“When the new drivers hit the road they are very careful and particular about following the rules. They are also fresh off learning new things which the old drivers don’t know or are careless to follow. I myself put the sticker on my car and saw that people are more considerate when they know that a certain driver is new,” he explained.
Though not mandatory currently, RTA has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Interior to have the initiative implemented at the federal level.
According to the proposal the sticker will remain on the car for six months, after which it can be removed.
Similar in size to other awareness stickers like ‘Baby on Board’, the idea is already in practice in Japan, Australia and other countries.
“We are always seeking to deliver distinctive services, initiatives and concepts that effectively contribute to achieving the highest customer satisfaction rating through caring for road safety. This great idea is being applied in some countries including Japan and Australia and we have opted to apply it here in Dubai in an effort to promote security and traffic safety on roads,” Al Marzouqi said.
