Watch: 10 mistakes Dubai drivers should avoid in RTA road test
Do you dread the RTA road test? Here are the top 10 reasons
why people fail their driving licence test in Dubai.
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:
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"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.
