UAE: New drivers to receive two-year licences
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Jun 2017
New driving licences in the UAE shall be issued only for a period of two years, under recent amendments to federal traffic laws. After that, renewed licences shall be valid for 10 years for UAE citizens and five for non-citizens. The changes will take effect from 1 July and are seen as a move to promote road safety.
The new measure is significant because it means new drivers of all ages will have a two-year licence rather than one for 10 years. It will mean that bad driving or a medical condition is flagged up much sooner than at present, reported The National.
Almost half of road accidents last year were caused by drivers aged between 18 and 30. The road fatality toll last year was 725 people, up from 675 in 2015.
The changes would not have an immediate effect on the premiums of new drivers, said Mr Sanish Velayudhan, Senior Vice President at Gargash Insurance. But in the long term, there may be a reduction when traffic accidents are reduced as a result of the new rules.
“The five-year driving licence for expats is expected to promote better driving behaviour,” Mr Velayudhan added. He said that insurers already consider a year-wise claims history which penalises unsafe driving and rewards safe driving through discounts.
Expatriates will have licences valid for five years, instead of the current 10. They are required to have a valid residence permit for the renewal of licences.
The new traffic rules also state that children over the age of 10 are allowed to sit in the front seat of the vehicle, and every passenger will be required to wear a seatbelt. M