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Dubai: The number of driving licences issued last year in Dubai fell a drastic 43 per cent due to strict testing procedures adopted by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Gulf News has learnt.
A total of 85,000 driving licences were issued in 2007 compared to around 150,000 in 2006. Although the RTA has managed to control the mass issuing of licences, it has also created a massive backlog, leaving thousands of applicants waiting.
It used to take from two to eight weeks to get a licence until the end of 2006 but now it takes several months to do so.
Due to tough testing, the percentage of learner drivers who pass has also fallen to around 65 per cent.
According to statistics provided by driving schools, more than 20,000 learner drivers have been waiting several months to undergo a driving test.
"It takes more than a month to get a test date," said a driving school instructor.
Driving school officials said the backlog has increased and also the waiting time to learn has increased.
"More than 1,000 people register to learn to drive every day but they have to wait for months to even start training," said one driving school manager.
Most learner drivers get their licences after at least two or three attempts. It takes two to three months to start classes, two to three months to learn and then three to four months to get a test.
However, an RTA official defended the strict testing procedures, saying that examiners go by the book and approve a driver only if he or she demonstrates the ability to drive.
"Our aim is to have qualified drivers on the roads in order to reduce accidents which also lead to traffic jams," he said.
According to RTA statistics, the number of vehicles registered in Dubai increased from 743,769 in 2006 to 853,827 in 2007 with an increase of 116,309 vehicles registered in 2007.
Regarding the delay in conducting tests, he said the RTA had increased its testing time from 7.30am to 5pm and each examiner is now testing 40 drivers per day instead of the previous 24 per day.
There are a total of 70 examiners including 24 women and the RTA is in the process of recruiting 30 more.
Your comments
I started my venture for license in June 2007, till now I couldn't make it. During this period I could only avail three road tests, really getting frustrated; more over it becomes too expensive to take training classes. I feel if you are lucky enough, then even if you don't drive properly, you may make it at first test itself, else you try, try , try and try.
Farooq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:35
Sadly this way is too late; nothing is done to enforce the laws on those who are on the road.
morrison
dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:29
Thanx Mr Ashfaq Ahmed for raising up this issue. My only concern is, if the students fail why do he/she have to wait for another 2 months for the next test ,why it cannot be done weekly or biweekly ?
as its obvious after 2 month the confidence level of the student drop down for the test.
will be thankful if you can please clarify on this issue with the RTA
hitesh
,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:28
Arduous RTA test procedures are obviously a clever ruse to dissuade common man from getting a UAE driving licence. Even the best drivers who may have been driving on more complex and modern roads in Western countries often have to go through this rigmarole. The RTA officials assertion is that examiners go by the book, is not entirely true. RTA must find better ways to discourage people by stating the facts, rather than pulling the wool over their eyes.
Robert
Mumbai,India
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:22
It?s a very good idea to put control on new drivers on roads. But as said with a strict driving test doesn?t look so. What the RTA has done is only increasing the GAP of examinations and file opening. Which makes a negative impact on the new applicants? Who are loosing patience as well as lot of money.
Abid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:09
The RTA and traffic department should keep two type of driving test, the normal one for own use and second one (tough) for job purpose. With this way it will be controlled.
Mohammed
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: April 16, 2008, 12:02
.IT IS A POSITIVE DECISION AND GOOD FOR PUBLIC TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS. RTA SHOULD RUN MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT BUSES ESPECIALLY ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. RTA CAN HIRE SCHOOL BUSES FOR THIS PURPOSE
KANNAN
ABU DHABI,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:58
THINK RTA SHOULD LOOK BACK TO ITS POLICIES. REDUCING THE NO. OF LICENSES CAN NOT REDUCE THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP SOME OTHER MEANS TO REDUCE THAT. BUT WHY THEY ARE PUNISHING THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE LICENSES. ITS MONTHS AND MONTHS WAITING TO GET YOUR LICENSE AND CAR. MEANWHILE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON LOCAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM OR EITHER GOES FOR VERY EXPENSIVE TAXI. WHAT THEY CAN DO IS TO REDUCE THE TIME EITHER TO ONE WEEK AS IT WAS EARLIER OR MAXIMUM OF TWO WEEKS TO DO THE 2ND ATTEMPT AND DATE AFTER COMPLETING THE ROAD CLASSES SHOULD BE EARLIER.
Imran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:56
WHAT IS REALLY THE MEANING OF DRIVING LISCENCE INDEED?
IN MY OPINION-1.YOU MUST KNWO HOW TO DRIVE A VEHICLE.2-YOU MUST KNWO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COUNTRY'S ROAD AND TRAFFIC SYSTEM.
IF I HAVE LIGHT VEHICLE DRIVING LISCENCE, THAN WHY SHOULD I NEED A DRIVING LISCENCE FOR RIDE A TWO WHEELER VEHICLE?
Jai
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:52
Its has become a major issue to get a licence, as people are suffering a lot due the delays in test dates and starting classes. I would request RTA to be a little more lenient on giving out licenses as there is no proper alternate for transportation in Dubai.
Wasim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:49
Very sad news! waste of time and money. Being a good driver does not measure from the time you spend in driving school. And this is not the solution to lessen the traffic and accidents!
Kathy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:49
Accidents in UAE happen not because drivers do not know how to drive but because of reckless attitudes and carelessness and drivers getting accidents are not really the new-licensed but the old ones. All seems to think that the road is like a play area for bump cars!!! RTA and road officials are very tough on its rules.
Maryam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 11:46
Indeed, safety is our concern. What about providing those who are waiting to do the test, those who fail and those who do not intend to drive with a cheap, timely, alternative means of transportation?
Ray
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:39
The RTA and traffic department should keep a minimum requirement of graduate or senior secondary level education for applying for a licence. With this it will reduce the number of applicants, because many do not have basic education. With this accidents will also be minimised.
Sridhar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:38
It is good to hear that the RTA is strict in issuing driving licenses. I would like to advise the RTA to conduct a small written test in addition, by asking certain questions so that the driver will be more perfect. I would also like to advise the RTA that they should conduct tests only on manual geared vehicles instead of automatic, because this will test the driver's real ability to control the vehicle.
Waheed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:24
I registered for my driving license in June 2007 but so far I have given six attempts but I cannot succeed in getting the license. Each time I find that examiners are looking from different angles. Even the instructors are not very clear about the rules. When I look back I feel totally depressed because of the problems I am facing. Even after clearing all the payments I have to fight with the driving school to get a test date, scheduling for classes etc. I lose almost two days every month. One day is to pay the fees and get the schedule for classes and the second day is for a road test. Twice I had to wait from 7.30am to 4pm to attend the test. Once after waiting four hours it was cancelled. I think the RTA need to be little more lenient.
Jose
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:20
This is a very sad situation. I have been enrolled since last year and keep wondering how many more years I will have to continue my classes and the number of road tests I will have to take. If anyone could answer my question as to why the students are being punished for the accidents that are occurring on the roads, why cannot the authorities be stricter with the present drivers? The bottom line is that everyone, especially the driving schools, is making a lot of money, not caring about the difficulties and frustration faced by the students. Getting a license has been made so difficult and expensive now, that perhaps one day licenses will be auctioned! In the long run it is better to stop issuing driving licences all together and let people rely on improved public transport.
Rajni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:10
To reduce accidents in Dubai, first the RTA should put controls on speeding, fine people for not maintaining proper distance between cars etc. Many people come here to work without a driving license, which now takes months to get one, it is very difficult to continue in their jobs.
Raj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:09
Increasing the number of test per examiner is not a good idea. If an examiner is testing 24 people, it is reasonable. If he is going for 40, that means he gets exhausted and definitely it affects the results.
Mahfuzul
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:06
Well done to the RTA for this license procedure. But they have to extend the learning time because some office timings are not suitable. My office timing is 8am to 5pm so how can I apply for training?
Riyaz
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2008, 08:00
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