New expats in Dubai would know of the dreaded driving test to get a driving license. After months of classes, not to mention expenses, you end up failing your driving test and have to take another 2 weeks of classes to take another one. If you are one of those people who felt like you unfairly failed your driving test, you are in luck! The RTA recently announced that Dubai will be starting an automated driving test.

Where is the automated driving test available?

“The first smart yard was launched in February 2018 at Dubai Driving Center, Al Khail branch. By the end of September, six yards were in operation. Three more will be ready in October and by the end of this year, all the 14 RTA test centers will have smart testing yards,” said Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, CEO of RTA’s Licensing Agency.

“Smart yard testing reduces the need of RTA examiners, cuts operational costs, improves accuracy and ensures fairness in assessing the test result,” he added.

How it works

High tech Cameras and an array of sensors are used to check if a driving license applicant will pass or fail. It uses video recognition and processing algorithms to check the vehicle’s movement and parking lines. An RTA examiner is positioned in a control tower from where he can monitor multiple vehicles at the same time through live video streaming.

Dubai Automated Driving test Control Center

Dubai Automated Driving test Control Center

“Each vehicle is equipped with five cameras and around 20 sensors. All the information about the driver’s and the vehicle’s movement is gathered in the CPU inside the vehicle. The data is analyzed by the system and it calculates the student’s score and sends it to the control room,” he said.

Pointing at one of the student’s test scores, Al Ali said, “If the vehicle touches the parking lines, the student’s points will be deducted. A sensor is also used to check if the driver wore his seatbelt. As for safety and security, vehicles are fitted with a safety system considered the first of its kind worldwide. The vehicle can come to a complete halt in case the speed exceeds 35 kmph, or if it approaches an object to the front of a vehicle driving at a speed of 20 kmph, or in the event of crashing into an obstacle in the front.”

No additional fee is required for students to take the smart yard test.

Would you prefer no human involvement in your testing process? Let us know in the comments below.

Already Have your Driving license? Check out Ejarcar’s awesome selection of cars for rent in Dubai.

SOURCE: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/videos/nation/video-dubai-parking-tests-to-soon-become-completely-automated–