Who pays traffic fines for violations made while learning?

traffic fines

It was Myla's (name changed) first time driving on the road after weeks of theoretical lessons. She was understandably nervous, with sweaty hands and heightened anxiety. Despite driving within the speed limit, a motorist behind her honked persistently, causing her to lose focus and swerve suddenly. This maneuver constitutes a typical traffic violation in the UAE.

In the UAE, sudden swerving incurs a fine of Dh1,000 and four black points on a motorist's licence. However, Myla is still a learner and has not yet acquired her driving licence. This raises the question: who is responsible for the penalty?

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) provided clarification to Khaleej Times: “If anyone commits a traffic violation while learning to drive, the driving institute is fined.”

Myla did not reveal the name of her driving school but mentioned she apologized to her instructor and would continue her lessons.

 Instructor’s Responsibilities

Wajahat Noor, manager of the Instructor Training Centre at Emirates Driving Institute (EDI), elaborated on the instructor’s responsibilities: “It is the instructor’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the learner, the training vehicle, and other road users.”

He noted that learners are susceptible to errors in many challenging situations. Instructors must be extra vigilant in scenarios such as sharp curves, roundabouts, traffic lights, lane changes, merging from minor to major roads, and dealing with various vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter riders.

“If there are mistakes from learners that can lead to accidents or fines, they will be considered the instructor’s fault, and ultimately, the instructor will be responsible,” Noor emphasized.

 Proper Guidance and Instructions

Noor described the role of a professional driving instructor as highly challenging. Instructors must provide proper guidance and instructions, ensuring learners fully understand the rules. Patience is crucial in teaching, as is the ability to remain calm and focused, enabling students to drive safely. 

“Instructors must not only possess the right knowledge and experience but also stay on top of every situation,” Noor stressed.

Effective communication between the instructor and the student driver is essential. Instructors should provide immediate feedback to help students develop their driving skills before acquiring a licence. Training vehicles are equipped with safety features, and driving instructors use cars with dual controls and brakes to prevent accidents during lessons.

Focus on Novice Drivers

Road safety specialist Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, highlighted the need for a strong focus on new drivers. Citing recent road safety statistics for 2023 released by the Ministry of Interior (MOI), Edelmann pointed out that 15 percent of major accidents were caused by new driving licence holders.

“This calls for stakeholders to raise awareness for safe conduct,” Edelmann said. He urged driving schools, universities, employers, and parents to recognize their responsibilities in promoting road safety.

Edelmann advocated for the introduction of mandatory road safety curricula in schools, similar to practices in other countries. He also suggested revisiting driving school curricula to better prepare new drivers.

“Acquiring a driver’s licence is a significant achievement, but it comes with the responsibility of demonstrating safe driving on the road,” he underscored.

 Constant Safety Reminders

RoadSafetyUAE shared several safety reminders for all motorists:

- Always wear seat belts
- Obey speed limits
- Maintain a proper distance between cars
- Use indicators consistently
- Avoid banned substances
- Focus on the road, avoiding distractions from passengers and mobile phones
- Avoid driving with young passengers until gaining sufficient experience
- Share safe driving tips and tricks
- Be involved and caring on the road

These measures aim to instill safe driving habits early and ensure that new drivers are well-prepared to navigate the roads responsibly.