Watch: 10 mistakes Dubai drivers should avoid in RTA road test
By Web Report
Published: Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:05 PM
Last updated: Wed 5 Jul 2017, 3:02 PM
Driving your own car on Dubai's roads is everyone's dream, but getting a driving licence is often thought of as a nightmare.
This is mainly because people dread sitting next to an examiner, and this nervousness builds up right from the day they enrol for their first driving classes.
To add to this is the long list of failed attempts and thousands of dirhams that they hear about other people spending.
Also read: Step-by-step guide to getting a driving licence in Dubai
WATCH:
"Don't get nervous. Just because an examiner is sitting next to you, and two other drivers are sitting behind you, shouldn't make you nervous. Think of them as passengers," said Emirates Driving Institute in an email.
Here's a list of silly mistakes the institute shared with us:
1. In a bid to impress the examiner, the drivers take extra long time to adjust their mirrors and seats. This should not happen. These adjustments have to be swift. Delay only implies that the driver is not confident.
2. Don't stop unnecessarily. Drivers tend to stop their vehicles suddenly when they see a pedestrian, and turn on their hazard lights, often without checking their rear-view mirror. A car may be right behind them, and stopping suddenly may cause accidents. At times, it is okay not to stop for a pedestrian until he steps onto the road.
3. Two to three drivers take the test in a single car. When the turn of one driver finishes and it's time for the other driver, the second driver must wait until everyone in the back seat is settled. In a hurry, the new driver usually adjusts his seats, mirrors, seat belts, but fails to see if the previous driver has settled.
4. Be confident when changing lanes. This is one of the main reasons for failing a road test. When the examiner asks the driver to change lanes, the driver first has to check all his mirrors, and only when the road is clear should he complete the lane change. If the road is not clear, the driver must say so. Very often drivers rapidly increase or decrease speed for a lane change just to impress the examiner. This is dangerous.
5. The examiner's instructions supersede any other instructions. If you are on a lonely road with absolutely no cars around, or in a closed and empty parking lot, and the examiner asks you to do something which is otherwise prohibited, you may object. But if he insists, please follow the instructions. These could be minor things like exiting the closed parking lot from the opposite direction, or crossing a yellow line, or parking in front of a gate, or applying the emergency brake. Remember, the examiner is completely aware of the surroundings and safety is his top priority.
Bonus tip: Some drivers have the habit of pressing the accelerator when the car is in neutral. Don't do that. It's treated as an immediate fail.