DUBAI // The head of the Federal Traffic Council said the legal driving age could be reduced to 17, during a meeting of the council at Dubai Police Officers Club yesterday.
Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, director of the Dubai Police traffic department and head of the council, said motorcycle licences are granted to 17-year-olds “in spite of the high risks involved that endanger riders’ safety”.
The legal driving age is 18.
Maj Gen Al Zafeen said learning to drive a light vehicle was significantly easier and safer compared with motorcycles.
The council also discussed the age limits for heavy vehicles and light lorries.
The meeting included a number of proposals aimed at maintaining safety and efficiency on roads, namely prohibiting registration of minibuses used for transport of people in view of the high incidence of accidents they are involved in.
Proposals also involved increasing imprisonment period and the amount of fines for some serious offences that would then be referred to trial.
Attendees looked into a suggestion to make it compulsory for anyone buying a car to hand in the car license plate to the previous owner during the sale transaction to protect the previous owner from any accrued fines on the licence plate subsequent to a vehicle’s sale.
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