Greater use of languages should aid road rule understanding in UAE

In a country of more than 200 nationalities, authorities are increasingly using more languages so that potential drivers are aware of the basic road rules and understand road signs.

ABU DHABI // The use of voice-overs and interpreters can help those taking theory driving tests who do not speak Arabic or English but authorities must ensure potential drivers understand the basic rules of the road and signs, experts say.

Theory tests should assess one's knowledge of traffic laws, road signs and driving competence, not their language skills, they say.

For safety purposes, it is critical that the driver can read signs on the road, said Michael Dreznes, the executive director of the International Road Federation (IRF).

“Even if the driver passes the written and practical tests, can the driver understand written signs on the road?” he asked.

"With the increased number of variable or dynamic message signs, we are seeing more messages on the road in English. If a driver cannot understand basic English, the driver will not be able to understand these messages."

In the UAE, most dynamic message signs are in English and Arabic, with the majority of road users able to understand them.

“However, there will be a small population that cannot read these signs,” said Mr Dreznes.

“If you require a person to learn English or Arabic before he or she gets a driver’s licence, he or she may decide not to get a licence but continue to drive, and this is the worst option.”

Last month Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority introduced seven additional languages — Hindi, Persian, Russian, Chinese, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam — for those taking a theory knowledge driving test, bringing the total number of languages to 11.

The computer-based test is run with a voice-over translation accompanying the text in the candidate’s preferred language. Previously, it was available in Arabic, English, Urdu and a voice-over translation in Pashto.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, chief executive of RTA licensing agency, said more available languages will lead to a better and clearer understanding of driving and traffic rules.

“It’s very good news,” said Robert Hodges, chief operating officer at Emirates Driving Institute in Dubai.

“Anything to help students achieve better understanding of the learning and testing modules within the RTA curriculum is welcome.”

The institute, he said, already supports theory instruction in up to 17 languages.

In April last year, the UK stopped driving tests in foreign languages to cut out the risk of fraud and help to ensure all drivers can read road signs and fully understand the rules of the road.

But the integrity of the licence testing can be maintained through strict procedures, said Dino Kalivas, chairman of IRF’s driver education and training committee.

“Licensing systems in the UAE and the standards for theory exams are very robust,” he said.

Emirates Driving Company in Musaffah offers theory classes in Arabic, English, Urdu, Pashto and Malayalam, while tests are computer-based, written or oral. The languages were chosen based on the clients' requirements, said its chief executive Khaled Al Mansoori.

“I felt more confident taking the test in my mother tongue,” said Anand VKM, 26, a salesman from India who recently sat his theory test after eight hours of lessons in Malayalam. “Each question was shown on an overhead projector, and examiner translated it in Malayalam.”