Learner drivers in Dubai are now able to rate their instructors with a new Uber-style rating system.
They can evaluate their instructor at the end of a lesson using an app, the Roads and Transport Authority announced on Monday.
“This initiative matches RTA’s continuous efforts to improve learning and bring it on a par with the top international standards,” said Mansour Al Falasi, director of drivers training at the licensing agency at the RTA.
“This star-based rating will encourage instructors to improve the quality of training.
“It will also reflect on the annual assessment of the driving instructor.”
Mr Al Falasi said the rating system would also improve road safety across the emirate.
“From January to the end of the third quarter of this year, driving instructors have spent 1,684,650 theoretical and practical training hours with students at various driving institutes in Dubai,” he said.
“About 73,627 students have applied for driving licences during the same period.
“Driving institutes have about 2,000 driving learning vehicles and employ about 2,300 driving instructors and trial examiners.”
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
