Government

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) plans to launch medical testing procedures for private family chauffeurs during this year. The change is part of a plan the RTA had charted since 2011 for issuing yearly professional permits for different groups of drivers. The move introduced by issuing permits for drivers of trucks, buses, and taxis and now private chauffeurs lent by families. The issuance of this permit rests on a number of vital conditions emphasized by the fulfillment of medical fitness conditions.

"The professional driver's permit is an evidence that the holder has passed the proposed medical tests and is totally free from communicable conditions," said Jamal Assada, Director of Drivers Licensing at RTA's Licensing Agency. "The applicable drivers' medical test, backed by the Dubai Health Authority, conforms to the treatments used by the UK-based Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).The use of this model improves the profile of Dubai Emirate since it line up with high-class European Medical Assessments. This model pursues to verify that the driver is medically fit to drive vehicles as it comprises testing of certain medical conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, eyesight and a general physical examination, he stated.

"The necessary medical tests make up a variety of stages specifically sending application through the service centers, driving institutes, vision test, website, dispatching driver to one of RTA-approved 9 medical facilities to go through medical tests, and the issuance of online medical permits straight from hospitals. A detailed electronic system incorporated with the traffic system remains in place for use by hospitals and the concerned firms. Through this system, results of the medical test are gone into and permits are issued. The expert permit is renewable yearly at a cost of AED100," mentioned Assada.

"Private chauffeurs for families is a important classification that needed to be subjected to yearly medical tests to ensure their medical stability as it has ramifications on the security of families & kids, besides boosting the security & safety of all," concluded the Director of Drivers Licensing.

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