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Senior traffic cop calls for licence age to be lowered
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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Posted by Shah, Dubai, UAE on 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.
Posted by Shaheen, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on 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.
Posted by cool dude, San Francisco, Stars and Stripes forever on 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 !
Posted by Jay, Dubai, UAE on 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?
Posted by SWAMY REDDY, Dbai, UAE on 25 October 2009 at 14:25 UAE time
UAE want more disasters in driving what makes sense to have such young drivers on the road rather then controlling.
Posted by SR, Dubai on 25 October 2009 at 14:07 UAE time
Even if they reduce to 16, then still 12-14 might drive their parent's and elder siblings cars!
How about removing the speed limits as well, then there is no problem of speeding!!!
Automatically, most grown-ups will be scared out of the roads; then less traffic and better use of the Metro as well.
Posted by Billy, Dubai, UAE on 25 October 2009 at 13:43 UAE time
Amazing logic - don't fix the problem, legalize it.
Posted by Steven, Dubai on 25 October 2009 at 12:50 UAE time
As they break the law already, we'll amend it to suit!
Surely they should be properly punished when caught, and this would ensure the road accidents caused by underage driving are addressed correctly.
No the answer is to ban them for longer, and punish their parents for not controlling them properly. Furthermore, confiscate their vehicles and sell them, with the money raised going to a accident victims charity for which they also have to do community work until thier licences are returned! That will give them a sense of responsibility, and road awareness.
Posted by Chris J, Dubai, UAE on 25 October 2009 at 12:49 UAE time
If this is to be implemented, then lets get serious. Most UAE teenagers are not worldly and will take this permission to drive as a right. Let them be forced to wear a P (Provisional) plate on the back and front of the car for three years and limit their speed limit to 80 on any road and force them to use the two inside lanes (yes some races persist in calling them slow lanes) on major roads except for overtaking. Oh and if they get caught speeding in the first three years, they loose the right to drive for five years. Alternately, give them 3 black points for speeding and when they have used the allocation, they are back to using the very fine Metro, taxis and buses to visit their friends for five years. The driving licence must be considered a privilege and not a right by these drivers.
Posted by Omar, Dubai on 25 October 2009 at 12:20 UAE time
I thought they talked about raising the age 21!
UAE has one the world's worst records of car accidents and locals contribute to those levels directly.
according to their own official website www.roadsafety.ae Abu Dhabi is almost the worst city in the world in terms of road safety. Yet, they want to lower the age to 16!!!
Enforce the law and incrase the hours to 200 so the youths know what road safety is. even 120 is nothing!!!