RTA reviews drivers’ training, qualification

Mansour Al Falasi, Director of Drivers Affairs Department, Public Transport Agency, said: “Out 1,667 drivers from franchise companies who applied for the test, 703 drivers were successful, and out of 836 drivers, who applied for deluxe vehicle test, 375 were successful during the first half of this year.

“The total number of drivers licensed as taxicab drivers from franchise companies has hit 12,435 drivers in addition to 1,592 drivers licensed as deluxe vehicles drivers, 1,627 drivers licensed as school bus drivers, and 955 drivers licensed as public bus drivers, hence the aggregate number of drivers licensed under the four categories is 16,609 licensed drivers,” continued Al Falasi.

“In the meantime, different training courses held at the Department are attended by 2,582 school bus drivers, 4,748 public buses and inter-city bus drivers, and 404 male and female school bus conductors.

“The department’s awareness programme in the first half of this year yielded 1,017 drivers, who were subjected to an intensive educative programme comprising two aspects: the first focused on customers service which, in turn, consisted of 
eight subsidiary topics.

These topics are building good relationships with customers, greeting customers, minimising complaints, helping passengers and road users, understanding psychological pressures and tension, maintaining the vehicle, promoting tourism along with the impact of poor customer service on the level of service, and work progress in general.

“The second aspect focused the cleanliness of the city, which covered tree subtitles, namely the healthy environment in the interior and exterior of the vehicle, educating passengers on maintaining cleanliness and avoiding throwing trash on streets, and the impact of misusing the acceleration pedal on increasing the environmental pollution,” said Al Falasi.

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