Dear Friends,

So after my last post of Visa facts here I am sharing the complete experience of Driving License what I
understood in my journey.

Before I share details, I want to let you know that I drove the car in India for 2-3 years, no classes taken
just started driving with friend car by simple rule of ABC (Accelerator, Break, Clutch) so when I started
here, was very nervous as I have seen people in my company attempting 6-10 times and some getting
success and some getting not.

I am not sharing about getting driving license book as it is already explained in ROP website, I am
starting from after that, though if some one have question he or she can ask me.

1. First of all forget that you came from here or there and you have drove car for so many years or so.
You should keep in mind that you are starting from zero and you need to just get 10 out of 10 to get the
license ( in many cases even 8-9 also do but depends on luck ).

2. Find a good car instructor (based on your circle experience of past). Talk to that person before you fix,
make sure he knows good english (not fluent one but still not the bad one) and if knows hindi it is plus
and Arabic they know anyways. Fix the hourly rates / test rates / bonus if you pass and so.
Don't fall into a trap of contract like paying 300-400 OMR till get license.

3. Start the classes only when you have kept 300-400 OMR aside to get the license (dont feel negative by
this line, this is to ensure that once you start you don't stop till you get license). Expecting license in first
attempt is like a dream which rarely come true. But for sure second to fifth attempt it is possible to
make.

4. Dont think that this is easy location, that is tough location etc.. best is to find the location which is
near to your area where you live. Many people suggest that go to outskirts and stay there and get
license in 1 day etc, which I personally would not suggest. As keep in mind that you have to drive on the
roads where you stay and this is for your own safety.

5. Don't hurry for test as practice of one hour cost you 6/7 riyals however failing the test costs you 30/35
riyals. So take classes till you get confidence.

5. So first test will be Signal Test / Drum / Slop test, they are conducted one after other and paid in one
fee. Signal test is very easy, where you have to sit in front of Police and he will ask you sign boards
meaning and you need to tell what they mean and it will take max 2 minutes. This is very easy still you
can practice on given link-

http://www.muscatads.com/muscat-driving … oad-signs/
Once it is clear, you will go for Drum Test. This test is nothing but test of your parking skills. You will see
2 lines of 4 drums each at equal distance (enough to pass your car easily). You need to cross them and
go to your right first, then reverse back between drums and then go again front to left and reverse
again..that's it... It sounds simple !!! or may be tough but it is all based on trick.

6. In drum test, your instructor will tell you trick i.e. the point at which you need to turn steering full
and that is very very important. For this please ensure that whenever you sit in car, you fix one position
of your seating which is comfortable to you. Secondly the day you have test, go for class before that, so
that your sitting position is arranged and if you clear at the learning area in one go..dont try again plan
to move to test site directly.

7. After that it is slop test, which is understood by name in the slop your car after a break should go
smoothly with out any sound or reverse. Again here is a balance between clutch and accelerator.

8. Now you will classes for Road test, in which inspector may check for your parking skills, some times
slop test (at Al-Khaud they do sometimes) and your driving on the main road skill and your knowledge
about roads and signs etc. No set rule for this it can be any thing.

9. Learning basic things with your instructor -

a. Parking in small row - to left or to right
b. Parking in big row - to left or to right
c. Taking back from parking from small row - to left or to right
d. Taking back from parking from big row - to left or to right.

everything have certain set of rules which teacher will tell and once you practice them 2-3 times it is
very easy. However make sure that during the test you follow -
a. Indicator while parking
b. Mostly use gear 1 while parking as speed is slow
c. looking at all the three mirrors (dont try to look direct back like we do in our home country)
c. moderate speed (neither slow nor fast - again no set definition )

9. Confidence of your face is most important thing required to pass the test. After parking is good, police
will ask you to move further. Make sure your mobile is either silent or switched off.
You hear very clearly whatever he says to do
While driving he may ask you questions like what is the speed here, can we stop , what is this sign board
so be prepared for answer these simple questions with out getting distracted.

10. Basic things which must be followed -

a. Don't touch yellow lines ever
b. Use indicators for any left or right movement
c. Use hazardous indicator for any sudden stop
d. don't drive very slow as many a time, once you reach to main road you have to increase speed very
fast
d. don't over speed for rated speeds of the roads
e. position of your hands should be proper
f. hands shall go to gear only when required, once work done back to position
g. take care of T- junction - full stop
h. hear clearly and differentiate what police asks you - like full roundabout and left and take left , full
roundabout and come back or come back.. etc
g. whenever car comes to stop, move to 1 no gear and be ready to move
h. never change the gears directly always follow sequence from 1 to 5 and 5 to 1.
g. every gear have set speed position so once you cross speed gear should change and same way while
moving down
i. take care of moving people around you when car is slow or you are reversing the car from parking etc.
j. taking care or line immediately when next instruction is given
k. indicator on, as soon as instruction to go left or right is given

11. Wear shoes if possible as it gives better control over clutch, Wear office dress as gives sense to
police that he is a working guy in a company and little mindset changes.

12. Great the police, be confident and go for the test after good no. of classes are taken.

13. If you fail in test, don't feel that it end of the world. discuss with your instructor what was mistakes
and make sure you don't repeat them.

I wish all the license seekers all the very best and hope this might help you a little rest all you have to
help yourselves.

(3) Inshalla is the only reason you will pass.

You make lots of mistakes, you will fail test.
You make no mistake, you will fail test.
The police does not like something about you, you will fail test.
Its just a bad day, you will fail test.
He's had a fight at home, you will fail test.
He's not had a fight at home, you will fail test.

You will pass when Inshalla.

That does not mean you don't practice or make mistakes. Just don't have any expectations of passing.
You will get it when you need it and not when you want it.

(4) It's a 'wolf in sheep clothing' business

Making people give repeated tests is good because it helps put good drivers on the roads. But as you
keep failing [sometimes for no mistake at all] you begin to realize that while that is the motive its not
the only one. The ROP wants your money. The driving instructor wants your money. Nobody wants you
to pass in the first attempt. The more failures the more money to be made.

You can't do much about this, expect realizing this helps in not having unrealistic expectations.

(5) Number of failures does not make you a bad driver

In a driving test rules are rules that are meant to be followed to the T no matter how silly some of them
may sound.
In the real world rules are just guidelines meant to ensure your and other travelers safety.

Most 'so-called-mistakes' are when you have not followed the rule to the T. I'll enumerate some that
have led to my/ colleagues failed attempts: [Make no mistake, I am all for having and following rules.
But the excessive rigidity is incomprehensible]

a) Give right indicator even if there is only a right that can be taken: Silly rule for an experienced driver
but I got failed for it [this is while getting into a fuel station]

b) Down-shift in descending order - 5, 4 ,3, 2 and 1: Who ever does that in real life, but I was failed for it.

c) At the signal keep the car in first gear ready to take off: Another silly rule. It does not matter if the car
is in gear or neutral. Whats important is if you get going smoothly when the lights turn green. But the
cop will not care for that. He will fail you if you forget to put the car in first gear. Besides with over 90%
cars on road being automatic why have such pointless rules.

d) Don't change lanes immediately after giving indicator: Here's what the cop said:
Step 1: Give indicator;
Step 2: Check mirror;
Step 3: Move into other lane &
Step 4: Stop indicator.

Now according to me there is absolutely nothing wrong in the doing the following:
Step 1: Check if lane is empty i.e. no car in lane;
Step 2: Give indicator and move in to lane
Step 3: Stop indicator

I failed as I did not follow the above rules [all 4 steps]. It does not matter how well you changed lanes or
how safely you did it...you will fail since you did not go by the book.

e) When taking the left you need to do the following:

Step 1: Slow down at the left turn and give left indicator
Step 2: Check for on coming traffic
Step 3: Take the left if there is no on coming traffic

Simple and correct way of taking a left. But Step 3 has no guidelines to it and when you take the left is
completely up to interpretation by the cop. I have stopped at the line and waited for cars that are far
away and was told 'Why you waiting so long...car too far so just go'. OK. Next time car still far and I go
and another cop says 'That's mistake...You wait when you see a car on that road'.

Well thats all for now. I'll add to this as and when such gems decide to reveal themselves to me. Till then
so long. Keep paying through your nose and like I said you will get it when you need it and not when you
want it.

Some reasons for failing are mentioned below (few experiences of my friends)
Reasons --- Solutions
1.Tire touched yellow line --- Any circumstances, vehicle should not touch yellow
line.

2.One of pedestrians crossing road, my friend honked --- Allow pedestrians to

cross.

3.One of pedestrians crossing road, my friend did not honk --- Should honk if,
pedestrian crossing main road other than zebra path.
4.One of two wheeler overtook from right side to my friend's driving car, when
these guys were waiting for traffic signal ---Should not give much space at right
side, always give space left side so that others can overtake.
5. At RoundAbout, ROP asked my friend to go right. My friend didn't understand
which right? First right or second right. So he asked once again by turning towards
ROP, ROP did not reply.... he crossed second right also ROP didn't reply... So he
took vehicle one more round. At second round he took first right turn. ----Please
refer the “Directions of RoundAbout” as mentioned above one of above figures.
6. My friend was holding steering with open fingers.--- Steering has to held strong
enough that it shouldn’t slip while driving
7. Driving slowly than speed limit for that particular road --- Should maintain speed
limit (5 KM + or - )
If everything goes well, you will be passed and you can collect your license next
day by paying 20 Oman Riyals in ROP station (By Visa/Credit/debit card).You have
take 2 passport size photos and labor “Resident card” along with you. Note: I
heard, till 3 moths DL license will be in observation period. If you met with major
accident then your DL will be cancelled.
Remember: If you fail in the driving test, you will get another chance to pass it but
if you fail traffic road, there will be no second chance.

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