Khaleej Times

Automatic to manual licence sans classes

- Staff Report

dubai — Starting this October, Dubai automatic transmissi­on driving licence holders will be able to convert their licences to manual transmissi­on in the light vehicles category. The best part? You don’t have to take any additional driving lessons to take the test. If you know how to operate the stick, you give the test. It’s as simple as that!

According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), if an applicant fails in the test, instructor­s will notify him/her about the mistakes. The applicant may then take corrective measures and give the test again.

The test would not relate to driving skills, but would rather focus on the handling of the manual gear system Jamal Al Sada, RTA official

“The test would not relate to driving skills, but would rather focus on the handling of the manual gear system. Dealing with manual transmissi­on needs certain skills such as paying attention on the road while shifting gears, ability to shift gears without distractio­n, and coping with the smooth shifting between gears while driving,” said Jamal Al Sada, director of drivers licensing at the RTA’s licensing agency.

reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

Holders of manual transmissi­on driving licences can easily cope with the automatic transmissi­on without requiring tests.” Jamal Al Sada, director of drivers licensing, RTA

dubai — Have an automatic gear licence but love the stick? There is good news for you! Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a new service that allows automatic transmissi­on driver licence holders to shift their licences to manual transmissi­on in the light vehicles category. The service will start this October.

“It is now possible for holders of light driving licences in the category of automatic transmissi­on to apply for shifting their licences to manual transmissi­on category from this October,” said Jamal Al Sada, director of drivers licensing at the RTA’s licensing agency.

“Applicants would be tested without being subjected to training lessons at the RTA. The test would not relate to driving skills, but would rather focus on the handling of the manual gear system. In case of failing the test, the applicant would be notified about his or her weaknesses and he/she may select the appropriat­e ways for improving those points before reapplying for a test,” he noted.

“Dealing with manual transmissi­on needs certain skills such as paying attention on the road while shifting gears, ability to shift gears without distractio­n, and coping with the smooth shifting between gears while driving.

“It is a different case scenario for holders of manual transmissi­on driving licences. They can easily cope with the automatic transmissi­on without requiring tests, as the automatic transmissi­on needs no action while driving.”

Al Sada added: “The RTA is making every effort to meet the needs of drivers through streamline­d processes as they are closely related to the safety and security of roads and users.”

reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

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 ?? File photo ?? The new service is applicable for driver licence holders in the light vehicles category. —
File photo The new service is applicable for driver licence holders in the light vehicles category. —
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