Latest news with #drivertraining
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: RTA records violations in driver training inspection campaigns
Several violations, including poor tyre maintenance and non-compliance with training session hours, were recorded at some driver training facilities in Dubai, the Road and Transportation Authority (RTA) announced on Wednesday. RTA said a series of 'comprehensive inspection campaigns' were held across driver training facilities in the emirate for three months. 'The inspection campaigns covered 26 training facilities, during which a total of 2,391 inspections were conducted and several violations were recorded. Among the most notable violations were failure to meet the technical standards for motorcycle tyre maintenance and non-compliance with the training session durations specified by the RTA.' The inspections checked all facilities and equipment used in practical driving lessons. 'One of the key objectives of the inspection campaign is to stress the importance of regular motorcycle maintenance and the correct placement of directional signage on training tracks, as both are critical to delivering a smooth and safe training experience that meets the highest standards of safety and training quality,' Saeed Al Ramsi, director of licensing activities monitoring at RTA's Licensing Agency, said in a statement sent to Khaleej Times. 'These campaigns are part of RTA's efforts to improve service efficiency and ensure that all relevant entities comply with the applicable regulations in a way that enhances the customer experience and their trust in the quality of services delivered,' he added.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Minimum age for train drivers being lowered to 18 to address shortage
"If I could go back and talk to my 18 year old self, I'd force myself into the railway," said Ben Warner, a recently qualified train Warner, who works for Great Western Railway (GWR), is nearly 40 but from December could find himself surrounded by teenagers as the minimum age for train drivers has been lowered from 20 to 18, to help with driver base is Westbury, Wiltshire, and told the BBC: "Look out of the window - best office in the world."With the changes set to come into place later in the year, we take a look at what is involved with training and qualifying to become a train driver. Adam Walding is a driving standards manager with GWR - drivers in training get their final tests with explained training is usually about 10 months, including three to four months of theory - covering what everything in the cab is then another process for a few months of sitting with drivers, who will give you "direct instruction, as you progress, that instruction reduces"."You then have a five-day final driving test with somebody like myself." He said that to get into training at 18, people need to think about their transferable skills: "Start building your CV - what does a train driver do? What do I do?"My first job for example was working in a shop, I used some of the safety examples from that in my interview."Mr Walding said someone's age should not make a difference: "If someone has the right transferable skills, age shouldn't be a barrier."Meanwhile, Mr Warner said he enjoys his work, but admitted it is a "massive responsibility"."The training GWR put us through is so rigorous. My first day as a qualified driver, I felt ready to go, I felt in a really strong position to take the train where it needed to be." Mr Walding explained that young people who previously wanted to learn at 18 would have had to find another role but now the opportunity is there for them."The more colleagues we have available to us the less likelihood your train will be cancelled because of a lack of train crew," he this month, the government said 87% of cancellations made the night before a service runs were down to driver average train driver is aged 48, with 30% due to reach retirement age by 2029, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said lowering the minimum age was about "future-proofing" the railways, adding that it was "bold action to improve train services and unlock thousands of jobs".
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Now that I am a bus driver extraordinaire, I can pass my wisdom on to you
'You'd have passed your test with that.' The words, dear readers, of a veteran teacher of the good and great of Dublin's bus-driving community. Spoken to me, a mere mortal, after just half an hour of double-decker training after I reversed the behemoth into a bus parking space. I can die happy. I was invited along to learn how to manoeuvre one of Dublin Bus's driver-training vehicles – the big red ones with the colossal L plates – as part of the company's bid to attract more female drivers into the fold. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to embark on a career swerve. Between the praise about my parking and the financial perils of freelance writing, I could do a lot worse than taking my skills professional. I've always wanted to try driving a bus. Surely most people have? It's a job that many kids aspire to and an activity that appears both terrifying yet achievable at the same time. Because what is a bus if not an enormous car, except filled with precious cargo and larger than most other vehicles on the road? As my dear old dad said to me when I was first learning, 'If you can drive a car, you can drive anything.' In fairness, I think he meant that if you can drive a Nissan Almera you'd probably make a good fist of piloting a Ford Focus, but it was those words of encouragement ringing in my ears that propelled me behind the truly enormous steering wheel of a double-decker on Dublin's northside. READ MORE When I signed up for the challenge I assumed I might be allowed to move the bus forwards a few feet and that would be that. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be sailing around the practice yard of Phibsborough's Dublin Bus Training Centre, managing not to hit anything and completing the aforementioned testworthy parking manoeuvre. Tina was my instructor on the day, a woman of immense patience and communication skills. She started me off with the big three: brake, mirrors, wheels. Now that I am a bus driver extraordinaire, I can pass Tina's wisdom on to you. I have been down on Dublin Bus in the past. I hope this won't affect my chances when I send in my application The brake pedal on a bus is huge. Three times the size of the one in your car (I may have exaggerated that in my head but it's large, okay?). When driving the bus you must cover the entire brake pedal with your foot in order to gain any purchase. There's no point in daintily pumping with your toes because next thing you'll be through the window of a Spar and your bus driving career will be over. The mirrors on the bus are also enormous. Tina was flat out reminding me to check them, and you really do have to swing your head from left to right to take them in because, as we've already covered, double-deckers are gargantuan. I've driven enough in Dublin city centre to know a cyclist can come out of nowhere, so I know as a bus driver I'd be a real mirror lickarse. What Tina taught me about the wheels was what separated the Emer who arrived in a Nissan Juke from the Emer who left considering a career in transport. When you're driving a bus, the front wheels are behind you. Forget everything you've ever known about positioning a car on the road because once you're in charge of one of these monsters you've got several feet of bus nose to contend with before you're even starting to pivot. Those impatient car drivers who insist on pulling way ahead of the white line at a red traffic light are a bus driver's nemesis. How are they supposed to make that swing if Fiachra's Merc is snouting way out? Stay in your lane, Fiachra, the bus driver's front wheels are behind them, for the love of God! You know nothing of the titans of the open road! I will admit that I have been down on Dublin Bus in the past, particularly when it comes to buses I've been waiting on that haven't shown up. I hope this won't affect my chances when I send in my application to join the ranks. There's an open day for any women who'd like to try being at the helm of a double decker on May 24th, and you can sign up at as long as you've held a full driving licence for two years. You can impress Tina and Co with your brake, mirrors, wheels knowledge. Tell them Emer sent you. They're probably still talking about my incredible reversing.
