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Trained drivers help reduce accident rate

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Director-General of DTC, said that other contributing factors that have helped reduce the accidents rates of the largest government-owned taxi operator was the constant maintenance provided to the fleet of taxis in addition to the use of original spare parts.

“We have blended all elements guaranteeing that the fleet remains in top operational condition and in good running order so that we expect less troubles with the vehicles. Then again, along with experienced and highly trained drivers, we have struck the right formula,” he said.

He also pointed out: “Our main aim is to ensure total safety of passengers, drivers and vehicles and when all factors from training the drivers to the maintenance of the taxis to the use of original spare parts as well as the implementation of proper operational procedures are in place, then we can expect to see a reduction in the accident rates.”

Al Mulla stressed that the training centre at DTC was involved in designing and implementing several training course from theoretical to practical and on-job training on various driving courses and techniques such as evading accidents, abiding by traffic rules and regulations, abiding by the speed limits on highways, applying precautionary measures when stopping, taking turns and loading and off-loading passengers from the vehicles as well as when overtaking vehicles. Explaining the procedure, Al Mulla said: “Since all cars are linked to the control room via the satellite-controlled Global Positioning System (GPS), we can view the cruising speeds of the taxis and know if they are driving above the speed limits and we can take disciplinary actions against drivers who do not abide by the traffic rules and regulations from our headquarter offices in Al Ghusais.

He also noted that the training centre follows on all traffic fines issued to taxi drivers to analyse and categorise them and then consider setting up courses to remedy any problem that might appear in the performance of drivers. “They (the drivers) form the backbone of the operation and we always try to do our best to support them, especially when we discover that they are facing a particular problem that could be remedied through proper training,” he explained, adding: “It is through the review of the daily operations that we come to know of shortcomings in the service and the performance of the drivers and it is at that point that we do our best to improve upon the situation and ensure that the drivers are well trained."

Al Mulla further stated that the training centre distributes all information manuals, traffic safety booklets and other materials that are published by Dubai Police’s Traffic Department to all drivers so as to increase their public awareness and help increase their knowledge of all issues related to their daily work routine and traffic safety.

“We have also set up a customer call hot line to keep our customers directly in touch with us round the clock on the number 2080888 to allow our customers report lost and misplaced items that they might have forgotten in our taxis or even express their remarks, suggestions as well as complaints regarding our services,” he explained.

He also said that DTC follows on all complaints and suggestions and disciplinary measures are taken against errant drivers if a customer complaint and the corporation subsequent investigation into the matters proves that drivers and operational procedures were compromised.

“We take actions to ensure that our drivers are aware that they violated the rules and regulations. As we felicitate them for a job well done, we punish them for their violations. We also take customer suggestions into account and try to improve on our service and implement these suggestions if our studies show that they are beneficial to the service and add value to our service users,” he said.

• UAE