DUBAI // Barvej Alam takes his driving lessons in a Range Rover.
The 33-year-old Emirates Driving Institute pupil, a health and safety engineer from India, had trained in a Nissan Sunny at another school and failed his road test three times.
“I felt that the training wasn’t effective, which made me so uncomfortable when taking my road test,” Mr Alam said.
“I decided to sign up for a Platinum driving course and I started to regain my confidence.”
Aspiring drivers can also train in a Mercedes G500 and Chevrolet Camaro for a Dh25,000 package for beginners.
However, if you already have a driving licence issued in your home country that is five years old, you can register for the same package for Dh15,000. If the licence is less than five years, the cost is Dh20,000. Those who hold a GCC licence can opt for a Dh10,000 package for a short course.
On Thursday, Mr Alam passed his Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) exam, and is excited about driving a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado to work.
“The whole training concept is fantastic,” Mr Alam said.
“Our instructors are all well experienced and the vehicles that we train in are amazing.”
Businessman Soumit Rangan 41, who has held an Indian driving licence for 20 years, agreed.
“I arrived here a few months ago to set up a business and I’m so glad I signed up for this course,” he said.
“I trained in a Mercedes G Class and absolutely loved the experience.
“In India, traffic rules are rarely followed. But here in the UAE, I learned the importance of adhering to the rules to avoid being involved in an accident.”
Platinum driving course students do not just learn driving rules, they can familiarise themselves with powerful high-end vehicles, learn control and how to adjust their driving, said Rashid Ghulam Qader, 34, an instructor at Emirates Driving Institute for 13 years.
He has trained drivers who are put through 40 classes and others who go for refreshers.
“When they go off and drive a luxury vehicle after getting their licence, it would be much easier for them to control the vehicle – acceleration, braking and manoeuvring it.
“Initially, students struggle with it. But once they get control of the vehicle, it then becomes easy to learn safe driving, the traffic rules and regulations.”
Shahzad Sheikh, editor of Motoring Middle East, said students should also be warned against turning into road bullies.
“There needs to be some sort of attitude adjustment, obviously jumping into a big, imposing car with a lot of road presence endows the driver with a kind of misplaced superiority and this should not be the case,” Mr Sheikh said.
“All road users, from other drivers to pedestrians, have to be acknowledged, respected and where appropriate, given way.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
