Heavy vehicle drivers in Dubai don't have it easy

• Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
• Ahmad Hashem Behroozian, CEO of the Licensing Agency at the RTA.

Dubai: Obtaining a heavy vehicle licence in Dubai has become tougher due to a series of measures the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced in the driving curriculum.

The recently revised heavy vehicle driver’s training curriculum follows a three-pronged approach that focuses as much on road safety and driver’s attitude as it stresses on the importance of equipping drivers with the knowledge vehicle maintenance and hazard management.

“The training is not just about driving and using of vehicles. It gives drivers the best idea of how to know more about their vehicles, how to avoid breakdowns, how to secure loads, while also ensuring they know about their responsibility on roads,” said Hussain Al Saffar, director, drivers training and qualification department at RTA’s Licensing Agency.

“Heavy vehicle drivers are professionals, who spend most of their working hours on the road. Driving any vehicle is a challenge, but even more so for drivers of heavy vehicles, because their vehicles are heavier, bigger and longer and are more difficult to control. That is why we ensure they get the best training before they drive the heavy wheels,” said Ahmad Hashem Behroozian, CEO of RTA’s Licensing Agency.