RTA’S move to recognise taxi drivers’ dedication

DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed an initiative for recognising taxi drivers who demonstrated high levels of social responsibility during the outbreak of COVID-19. The RTA selected drivers who worked extra hours during the period of the pandemic for displaying their names on the yellow signs on top of taxis.

In this regard, the RTA has fixed name stickers on 638 taxis of franchise companies as well as Dubai Taxi Cooperation according to the plan set to recognise the drivers and reward their efficient and professional performance.

The RTA always seeks to develop new programmes and initiatives for encouraging drivers such as the traffic safety award launched nine years ago, recognising honest drivers and taxi drivers who have done excellent service every month.

About Dhs2,000,000 (Two million dirhams) is budgeted annually to reward outstanding drivers. Selected taxi drivers are also offered complimentary air tickets as part of the Traffic Safety Awards to bring their families on visit visas, which contributes to their psychological and family stability.

The RTA always seeks to run initiatives for training drivers and improving their performance before asking them to sit behind the steering wheels. It considers them ambassadors in delivering the message of the RTA aiming to enhance the traffic safety, which contributes to realising Dubai Government’s strategic goal of protecting lives and properties.

RTA has recently been coordinating with the authorised drivers’ institutes to qualify instructors to undertake the training of drivers of delivery motorcyclists in the emirate.

RTA is directly overseeing the induction of these drivers in tailor-made training courses approved by the concerned bodies.

The initiative is part of RTA’S ongoing efforts to boost the safety and security of roads in Dubai. It is also part of a master plan to regulate the business of delivery, logistics, and electronic media companies in Dubai.