Implementation of the program to start as early as this month
Dubai - Roads & Transport Authority - Manal Khalid:
The Licensing Agency, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), will start during this month the issuance of occupational permits for some driver categories (truck drivers, bus drivers, taxi drivers and private chauffeurs) in implementation of the Ministerial Decision No 776 issued in this regard. To be issued with this permit, the driver has to pass a medical test and obtain an approved health fitness report as per the approved medical health fitness template used in the Emirate with the aim of attaining the highest standards of traffic safety on roads.
Sultan Al Marzooki, Director of Drivers Licensing, RTA Licensing Agency, said: "The implementation of this program is in compliance with the Ministerial Decision No 776 providing for the issuance of mandatory occupational permits in respect of truck drivers, bus drivers, taxi drivers and private chauffeurs, and the key requisite of obtaining such a permit is that the driver must have the medical fitness to practice safe driving. The new tests will be conducted in several hospitals & clinics in Dubai Emirate that have been meticulously selected based on high-class standards aimed at providing excellent medical & customer service experience in terms of the waiting time, service processing time, size of the waiting lounge and the spreading of these clinics to offer services in different parts of the Emirate."
Al Marazooki continued: "Medical tests will encompass measuring blood sugar and blood pressure in addition to testing a variety of ailments, including eyesight, which might pose real risks during driving. Names of the approved hospitals and clinics will be posted in RTA website (www.rta.ae), and are also obtainable from RTA Call Center through dialing the toll-free number 8009090.
"Adopting the British Medical Standards as a model for the local standard sets the medical tests regime in Dubai at par with the systems applicable in the European Community, which are viewed among the best standards around. About 100 thousand drivers in Dubai will be subjected to tests in the forthcoming period based on the new medical test system. The system will be implemented in phases to ensure the smooth flow and accessibility of service to customers. In the initial phase, the focus will be on ensuring that novice truck drivers are issued with medical fitness reports and communicating the same to their employing companies where permits will be issued through these companies online. The system will be electronically administered starting from carrying out medical tests, test results and up to the final issuance of occupational permits enabling drivers to drive; which eventually contribute to a safer driving environment.
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© Press Release 2013
