RTA Launches Smart Track for Testing Drivers at All Driving Centers

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently launched the Smart Track system for testing the skills and knowledge of aspiring motorists after RTA successfully conducted trail runs of the system. The trial run of the system which is billed as the first automated practical road testing procedure in the world covered 38,000 tests, and the outcome was several positive deliverables and 10 improvements in quality and governance.

RTA plans to use Smart Track to support the government’s drive to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. As part of the system, intelligent technologies like smart sensors, differential GIS, and sensors mounted to autonomous vehicles are used to test those who apply for a driving license.

Commenting on the launch of the system, Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Licensing Agency, RTA said that the initiative was launched at all driving centers following the successes of the trial run phase which delivered record achievements in delivering smart and integrated solutions at all testing vehicles. The implementation of the system is expected to complement the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the UAE 4th Industrial Revolution Strategy.

He noted that the smart track system contributed to the automation of 32 percent of road-test reading standards such as the artificial intelligence, internet of things, advanced co-driver assisting systems, information telecommunication technologies, GIS, face-recognition technology, and 3D panoramic imaging among other smart technologies. It helped to cut the needed to retrieve the test video and the time for reporting incidents as well as vehicle faults by as much as 75 percent. It enhanced the efficiency and speed of the system to deliver instant information and this aligns with Dubai Data Strategy.

“The smart track was also a key contributor to the launch of the digital road test certificate, which also minimized the scope of paper transactions. Accordingly, RTA reaffirms its efforts to unleash new services aligned with the smart city initiative as well as Dubai Paperless Strategy.

He added that all the 150 supervisors and examiners have been qualified to cover testing centers. 250 light and heavy vehicles/buses have been fitted with the smart track system, which is compatible with the 5G internet network. Hence the system is fully aligned with the internet of things and the digital revolution strategy.

As part of the system, highly sophisticated technologies like face-recognition, are used not only for clients but also for examiners thus leading to 100 percent accurate identification of the examiner and customer. This leads to a greater level of integrity and transparency of the testing results, and at the same time makes it possible for the Drivers Testing Department to keep tabs on the sustained improvement of testing quality.

The smart track system can integrate with other systems such as the smart yard testing, centralized training. It can also transmit data to an artificial intelligence-based driver, which contributes to analyzing customers attitudes during the test.