Can certain expats get rid of driving habits they are used to?

As you all know, citizen of certain countries can convert their license into an UAE license easily. Others have to take lessons and make a driving test to obtain an UAE license.



I am just wondering if somebody, for example i.e. an Indian expat who is used to drive in his/her home country for years is able to change his/her driving habits by taking a couple driving lessons. When ever I drive from Abu Dhabi to i.e. Dubai, I notice very often that Indians often occupy the left lane. Do Indians feel safer driving left because they are used to it? Also every driving school will teach people to use the indicator when changing lanes, but many people just don't. Maybe because in their home countries they don't have to?



I also wonder if driving schools teach people how to force their way if they want to change lanes or make a left turn from the 3rd lane. And why are cross walks not respected unless there is a traffic light?



Okay, before somebody calls me being racist again, I blame many Emiratis of reckless driving.



My questions just goes out to the majority of people living here. How

difficult is it to get rid of driving habits of your home country and to follow UAE rules?



Thanks in advance.Can certain expats get rid of driving habits they are used to?
Hi H,



Regarding your state that expats replacing their licenses, as mentioned above, is not applicable for Asians.



Second thing, if the national of these countries, had previously license, he/she has to do additional driving classes (20 classes and to pass 2 different tests). Also, if these drivers used to drive for so many years back home, eventually they would still practise to obeid the speed limits, using indicators and most of the time not speeding. Dont forget that neither in India nor some European countries or USA you can reach up to 120km/ph without being stopped by police for overspeeding.



Eventually what happened in UAE is that they have seen all over sudden have 5 lanes towards one directions, directions are most of the time straight and with less narrows so its not that dangerous as it would be somewhere else.



I used to drive every day Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Dubai for certain perod of time and what I have experienced is enough to write a book. I had laughed at some people occupying the fast lane while 25 cars are just following and waiting for him to realise that he is eventually driving slow and blocking the whole lane causing traffic and other cars overtaking and making the whole mess dooooh



I have 2 driving licenses, passed my test from the first time, and used my signals first 6 months and then........... What happened afterwards is that the same people who drive slow and complain about locals way of drive, would never give you a way when needed and when you flash, horn or give indicator. There was no way to get into that lane, they wont let you unless you jump into that lane without any indicator, without respect you know what I mean (not only a highway also in the city they dont give way)



Also, the same people do not use compolsory steps to drive like checking the MIRRORS! Millions of times I ended up being behind the same nationality car. With all my respect to a driver I do not flash, but I do wait for them to realise that they should move as they are driving too slow on the left lane, and there are also faster cars then me behind that will force me too to move aftterwards. So, obviously they do not check those mirrors to see the situatuation in front and behind them. As soon as you flash, they immediately start braking or putting an immergency lights, which I would honestly never do as its dangerous.



We can talk about this issue for the whole day, and to be honest i think the habbits could change only and only if they learn to use mirrors and learn when to turn and move. I cant tell you that its easy to drive on a left lane, but you need to know when to move when its needed.



One day I said to my friend: If Locals are the only drivers in UAE there would be no traffic ( no because they are not many but because they would never block the lane and they would drive slow on appropriate lane). I have learned from Emirati how to drive in UAE, so if you find yourself blocking the way I would have to use my fav. BUMPER KISS heheheCan certain expats get rid of driving habits they are used to?
as-salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah,



It is difficult to do if they have no motivation to change-- and that motivation would come from having plenty of police patrols regularly ticketing traffic violators. Then they would find they can change their driving habits really fast and easy.



--and when it comes to Emirati drivers... first has to come respect for the police... because there is a lack of it if the police officers are not Emirati. of course this doesn't apply to all Emiratis... but it definitely is out there. Oh, and the widespread use of wasta will be rampant to change a ticketing situation... In the USA, most people don't even think of arguing with a police officer unless they are crazy, drunk or high on drugs--though there are those that do use wasta to get out of situations...
';I am just wondering if somebody, for example i.e. an Indian expat who is used to drive in his/her home country for years is able to change his/her driving habits by taking a couple driving lessons';



Hello, No need to wonder, as per the law, you can not convert the old driving license by taking a couple of driving lessons by being Indian.



I hope driving schools teach the lessons irrespective of nationalities. Also the only very few nationality people (in large numbers) are doing driving as their profession.



Did you read the last statistics of driving violations in term of living population based on nationalities. If you can look in to the number of people in road and the driving violations based on nationalities, of course everybody knows who are following / responsible for bad driving behavior.



I think you are looking for the supportive answers for your justification rather than reality.



Instead of going behind the majority of people living here we should go behind the majority of traffic violaters.



Wondering



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http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNe
Indians cannot convert their license and have to undergo a mandatory test before being given a driving license. So, that should answer a large part of the training requirements.



Most Indians are in the middle to low income group and own modest vehicles that are slow. I think the best solution is to reserve the fast lane for Locals. This way they do not have to painfully switch to the hard shoulder when they cruise at 200 kmph. I drive everyday from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back for the last 24 months and am really hurt that the locals have to shove their nose into an Indian's backside to get him / her to move away.