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"The initiatives also come in implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Partnership signed by RTA with the Ministry of Interior in support and consolidation of strategic partnership between them to effectively minimise traffic congestion, road traffic accidents and run-over accidents as well as to bolster traffic culture as a priority issue having a positive impact both economically and socially. The ultimate purpose is rally joint efforts to better serve drivers and road users from various segments of the society"
he said.
Provisional Licensing:
Al Tayer stated that RTA has conducted a study on the reality of traffic safety and compliance of drivers with systems and legislations of road safety, in which it was concluded that the greatest majority of fatal accidents were due to beginner drivers who lack sufficient driving experience. "Building on the concluded findings, a set of measures has been devised to strengthen road safety. These measures include introducing additional requirements to be satisfied by beginner drivers and restricting their driving freedom by denying them some of the privileges which are normally granted to experienced drivers", he noted.
He added that the study proposes the adoption of a provisional licensing system whereby a temporary license is issued for one year during the first three years of licensing drivers who are less than 21 years of age pursuant to Article (17) of the 1995 Traffic Law. It also adopts the implementation of a rule requiring a poster to be fixed on the motor vehicles of beginner drivers and compulsory training after obtaining the provisional license. These will constitute part of the requirements for renewing beginner driver licenses. The training programme would include lectures on traffic safety, driving skills, understanding of the risks of driving, and vehicle driving simulation.
Professional Drivers:
HE Mattar Al Tayer continued that the proposal concerning professional drivers include drivers of trucks, buses, taxicabs and all those who are involved in the driving profession. "The proposal suggests granting graduated driving licenses whereby a driver begins by obtaining a light driving license and then after a specific period of time can apply to obtain a heavy driving license. It also includes a revised classification of truck driving licenses into two levels, i.e. trucks without trailer and trucks with trailer, reduced validity period of career driving license from 10 years to 5 years, a requirement for medical examination and drivers further training and qualifying courses every 5 years following which they are tested to evaluate their ability to identify road risks. Transport companies should be engaged in evaluating the performance of their career drivers. The proposal also suggests increasing penalties on offending drivers", he added.
Traffic Files Opening:
Another proposal was also put forward by RTA to the Ministry of Interior, according to His Excellency the RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, which relates to studying the possibility of allowing traffic files to be opened for applicants who have reached the age to 17 and a half to allow them to begin training on light vehicle driving. Driving license in this case will only be granted to the applicants who successfully pass the eventual test subject to their age being not less than 18. He pointed out that the proposal meets the needs of the students who complete secondary school and who have not yet reached the age of 18 and wish to begin training before commencement of the university academic year. Because training is a process that requires long period of time which is certainly not be available to the students when they join their colleges, it is best suited for them to have this education immediately after completing secondary school and before enrolling at universities so that their academic achievement is not adversely affected. H.E. further emphasized that the best international practices in this field allow licensing applicants the opportunity to obtain vehicle driving education before the age of 18.
Medical Check-up:
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer stated that RTA has proposed in a perspective forwarded to the Ministry of Interior subjecting driving license applicants to health evaluation in order to reduce the rates of health-related road accidents which may lead to serious injuries or deaths. He pointed out that the proposal is line with Article 15 of the Traffic Law stipulating that that the applicant should be medically fit to be able to obtain a driving license.
He further remarked that the proposal includes obliging all driving license applicants to disclose their health condition and any chronic diseases that may affect their ability to drive. Applicants having health issues or chronic diseases will be directed by the licensing entity to the concerned health authorities which will assess their ability to drive. The proposal also requires all applicants who suffer from health problems or chronic diseases to submit medical certificate indicating that they are medically fit to drive. It obliges drivers who reach the age of 70 to also submit a medical certificate indicating their ability to drive. Similarly, all career drivers (bus and truck drivers) should also submit a medical certificate every 5 years advising that they are medically fit to drive. Al Tayer pointed out that, to a narrow extend, RTA is currently referring some categories of applicants to medical examination to ensure they are fit for driving.
Trailer Inspection:
HE the RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director stated that RTA has put forward a proposal relating to inspection of trailers and semi-trailers to ensure that they satisfy the requirements of traffic security and safety remarking that these trailers cause road accidents resulting in severe losses in both lives and property. He noted that these trailers are not registered and accordingly road accidents caused by them are normally reported as accidents involving normal trucks rather than by the trailers. He underscored that the present situation has contributed to trailer theft and that, in many cases, it was difficult to prove the rights of alleged owners for lack of vehicle ownership or identification evidence. He also noted that all trailers manufactured locally have no identification number (chassis number).
He concluded that it was also proposed to approve a system for inspection and registration of trailers and semi-trailers that is based on technical specifications and standards of traffic security and safety and apply this system across the UAE with these trailers and semi-trailers being incorporated into vehicle category whose drivers should be similarly trained and tested when they apply for driving license.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Interior and Road and Transport Authority aims to achieve mutual benefit by drawing up a framework and boundaries of partnership between the two parties. It is intended to strengthen the joint work to improve performance, streamline procedures, develop customers' services and maintain constant liaison and communication between the two sides for the attainment of their mutual interests which are eventually in the best interest of the United Arab Emirates. The MoU encourages exchange of institutional knowledge and experiences at all levels, sharing of information and studies related to the jurisdictions of the two sites. It also calls for cooperation with the concerned authorities to disseminate traffic awareness among all road users, for coordination on the engineering technology-based solutions to traffic safety problems and for the use of innovative methods that have direct bearing on the behaviour of vehicle drivers and road users with a view to reaching the highest level of traffic safety.
Posted by Rima Ali Al Mashni
