Dear Sir,

I’m an Indian expatriate working in Qatar, holding a driving licence from my country. But as expatriates from many Asian countries still have to undergo the local test to get a licence in Qatar, I enrolled myself in a driving school, paying QR4,000 for half a course as a VIP customer, with an extra fee of QR1,200. I passed my parking test but failed in the final road test.
I felt that my driving skills were not assessed properly by the official concerned during the test. He assessed my driving after three other candidates had completed their tests. Why should the assessor delay the process, I can’t understand.  The delay could influence the official’s verdict as he has to remember correctly  the way an applicant had performed.
My next test is due on April 9. The road test was frustrating.  There were more than 40 to 50 people for the road test and it is carried out from 7am to 11am . The results were announced after that; it means a person appearing for the test at 7am  has to wait around four hours to know the final results.
I watched the official assessing the road test of an applicant who was in the vehicle with three other persons. The official, I got the impression, was not assessing the candidate’s real ability and driving skills;  he seemed to just score marks randomly irrespective of whether the applicant  was right or wrong. That was my perception.
The official, it seemed, wanted to fail at least two candidates in a vehicle and to pass just one.
I also noticed  the following issues during the road test and feel that they need to be sorted out by the Traffic Department.
*The assessment could be done more methodically; the skills and ability of the candidate are not properly taken into account now.
*If you fail in your first road test, you have to wait for at least one more month for the next test. This gap should be shortened.
*Though I paid QR4,000 for my course, there was no guarantee that I would get a licence for sure. This, to me, is akin to  overcharging for a “non-service”.
*Expats from some select countries are eligible to drive in Qatar by transferring their own national licences  but how could one be sure that  they would drive well and not violate local traffic laws, especially since they don’t have to undergo any local courses?
*If  driving schools are unable to give learner drivers test dates at their course’s end, they should not admit new candidates.
*The application process for getting licences should be made easier for professionals from Asian countries.

Sudhakar Balakrishnan
(e-mail address supplied)