Getting a driving licence in Dubai may get tougher

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has submitted proposals to the Ministry of Interior which, if implemented, may make the process of getting a driving licence in Dubai harder.

The first is the endorsement of eight uniform mandatory lectures for applicants seeking driver permits of motorcycles instead of two lectures, and nine lectures for applicants of driver licenses for heavy vehicles instead of eight, Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of Licensing Agency, RTA, said.
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The second is endorsing a mandatory practical training on heavy vehicles fitted with a trailer before the license, in order to comply with the applicable international standards.

The third is the addition of real-life video clips recorded by surveillance cameras in various roads of the emirate as a key component of theoretical lectures for trainee drivers.

The fourth is the introduction of new requirements of medical fitness of elderly drivers by subjecting them to medical testing every three years when reaching 60, and every two years reaching 70 and above.
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The fifth is the revision of RTA-approved drivers training manuals by adding a provision about how to deal with vehicle fires incidents and using smart apps for reporting traffic accidents.

"The second part of suggestions submitted to the Ministry of Interior are of relevance to the federal level. They include coordination with the Federal Traffic Council for the gradual issuing of driver licenses, and endorsing a period for temporary licensing of all new drivers regardless of the age of the driver at the time of issuing the license, besides the endorsement of 12 black points maximum over one year in the traffic file of the novice driver. Recommendations made also include reclassifying driver licenses to align them with the best international practices," noted Bahrozyan.
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Arif Al-Malik, Director of Training and Drivers Qualification, Licensing Agency, RTA cum Head of the Standardized Driving Training Modules in Dubai Team, said, "Recommendations made to the Ministry of Interior included endorsing a system for the gradual issuance of driver licenses of different categories. They also included re-classifying some licenses to bring them in line with the world's best practices and the development seen by the UAE. Three categories have been suggested for motorcycle licenses instead of one category, and consideration will be given to the age of the driver and the engine capacity of the motorcycle. Another suggestion was made for adding a new driver license category between the light and the heavy vehicle in addition to the endorsement of two categories for heavy vehicle licenses (heavy vehicle as per the current classification, and a heavy vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer)."