Senior traffic cop calls for licence age to be lowered

LICENCE CALL: A senior Dubai traffic officer says 16 year olds should be allowed a driving licence as long as they have completed 100 hours of training. (Getty Images)

A senior Dubai traffic officer has said the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence shoud be lowered to 16, as long as the driver has had at least 100 hours of training, it was reported on Sunday.

Major Gen Mohammad al Zafein, the director of the Dubai Police traffic department, said in comments published by UAE daily The National that the move would help solve the problem of untrained, underage teenagers getting behind the wheel illegally.

“To allow young people to drive at the age of 16 is a protection for them,” he told the paper. “They would have the appropriate knowledge and training of how to drive safely.

“Many teenagers drive their parents’ cars behind their backs or borrow their older siblings’ cars, making underage driving a problem," he added.

But Simon Labbet, a regional director for the British Transport Research Laboratory, which is helping the Ministry of Interior establish new licensing regulations, said he had reservations.

“I believe the potential risks outweigh the benefit,” he told the paper.

“We know young drivers are a high collision risk. It is [about] their maturity, their ability to deal with underlying factors.”

Drivers in the UAE must be aged at least 18 to obtain a driving licence, but training and testing requirements vary in different emirates.

Al Zafein's proposals would also stop the young driver from driving between midnight and 6am during the first six months and carrying passengers below the age of 20 who are not family members would be prohibited.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Look at this realisticly
Posted by Shah, Dubai, UAE on Monday 26 October 2009 at 11:47 UAE time


AS a matter of fact, I think it is a very good idea to do this with the right attitude. If they will be allowed to have a permit to drive with an expariance driver i.e. driving instructor, for a year first and learn the rules and laws very good, this will help the over all quality of the roads. I learned to drive at the age of 14 myself, got a licence in USA at 16 and in the 35 years I have been driving, have had one minor accident that was my fault. The younger are more eager to learn and drive therefore are willing to follow the law if that's what it takes for them to do it.

Immature Decision
Posted by Shaheen, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Monday 26 October 2009 at 08:31 UAE time


While young ones are the cause and victims in many accidents, now to reduce the licence age would only contribute to worsen the scenario. A more mature TRaffic Authorities should instead think of raising it to 21 yrs.

Simply Nuts
Posted by cool dude, San Francisco, Stars and Stripes forever on Sunday 25 October 2009 at 16:23 UAE time


Could not agree more with all of you who say the driving age should be increased and the Police should enforce laws vigourously. The only way to discourage underage driving in the UAE is to ban those caught from driving for the rest of their life.
It is a common sight on Sh. Zayed and Emirates Roads to see large private buses, yes, even police buses, large trucks, in the fast lanes merrily doing 100-120 kmph when the limit is 80 kmph (as the speed cameras cannot distinguish buses from cars) flashing lights at motorists. Also crazy mini van and taxi drivers who apparently know no law at all. And I am not even mentioning those who drive with children in their laps / unrestrained etc. etc. The police vehilcles on the road show absolutely no interest in the mayhem taking place on the roads around them. The offending drivers are secure in the knowledge that there is no consequence for breaking the law. Only if the police pull these offending drivers over, fine them and cancel their licenses permanently, will the UAE's roads become safer. Good work Dubai Police - keep it up !

Shocking...
Posted by Jay, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 25 October 2009 at 15:18 UAE time

I really do hope that this draft law is not introduced. In a country with one of the worst road safety records in the world, introducing such a crazy law will only assist in continuing to keep the UAE roads in the "world's top 10 dangerous countries" ranking.

How about the Traffic Police actually try implementing some rules to IMPROVE road safety in the UAE?

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