Driving Tests

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Can anyone tell me how the driving test system is in Oman.
Im currently learning how to drive and I was just curious how they test you here. I know there is a drum test, slope test, road test, and visual test, but do you have to take them all at the same time or can you take them at whenever you feel comfortable. Im working on the drums at the moment and i find that the be the easiest actually, so when im 100% confident, would i be able to take the drum test and then a couple weeks later the road test and so on?

Can someone inform me? <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thank you!

[Mary]

If you have a driver teaching you morbid, he/she should be able to answer your question, but as far as I know, your driver should arrange the test dates with the police and then you have to take them all the same day. If you fail for example the road part only, you have to get another appointment to 're sit' this test only. That's the way it was when I got my license in '89. But ask your driver as things may have changed since then. Good luck!

[Smily3]

I have a Qatari driving license. what tests do i need to go thru to get a Omani one?

thnx

smily3

[Hey_U]

There is a road signs test, barrels (drums) test, slope test and finally a road test.

You can take the first test online at <a href="http://www.rop.gov.om" target="_blank">www.rop.gov.om</a> and you will have to pass them all to get an Omani driving license.

Before you do any of these tests, you will have to go through an eye test as well.

Does anyone know if I can get an international drivers license converted to an Omani one?

[Incubus1980]

no chitchi i dont think you can do that. well for Morbid yes you can take your test in two or three parts. You can give the eye test, signs, drums and slope one day. and you can give the road test whenever you feel ready. thats how i did it.
anyways.....if you pass the drums and you fail the slope..than you don't have to do the drums again ...and if you pass the slope and fail the road....you don't have to do the slope and drums again.
so i think it should be clear now.

[Smily3]

In Qatar they have a box parking test as well. I assume by drums test it id having to drive in a 'S' shape flanked by drums. The box parking test used to be a killer!!

InQ, why not? Are you sure?

[Incubus1980]

oh thats because Internationl License is only for the tourists and you can only drive Rent a Cars on it and it has some limited time period like 6 months or something. But it cannot be traded in for another license.

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

The international driving liscense is valid for 1 year

[DevilsAdvo]

Driving test is rediculously easy. Unless you have no basic grasp of the concept - you will have no problems.

Just be prepared to spend a whole day or two waiting for no reason...

[Smily3]

chitchi

InQ why not. was that addressed to me? If yes, why not what?

regards,

[dudi]

all that i know is that in Oman. the policeman who will be accompanying u will be reaally looking for a reason to fail u. even if its not fair.

here are some tricks they use which u have to be careful about Morbid.


1. the policeman hits the rear viw mirror with his hat when he enters the car, if u dont adjust it before u start driving u failed.

2. the policeman asks u to stop on a yellow line. if u stop then u have failed.

3. the policeman asks u to turn where its not allowed to turn if u follow his words u failed.

4. they even sometimes adjust thedrums in a certain way that its impossible to drive through but its not visible when u see it. ul think that u can pass. u have to have quick thinking and point out that he should streighten the drums b4 u take the test.

[Mary]

can I add some?

5. They ask you to go faster than the speed limit for that stretch of road, if you do, oops guess what?

6. Watch all road signs and follow them, like the priority sign, the no entry sign, and the stop signs, they may trick you with these too.

7. Listen to their intructions carefully, but don't take your eyes off the road and don't look at the gear box every time you change gears. <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I did that!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Maaaan this is sounding pretty scarey!!!!! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_bncry.gif" alt="" />
Hmmm thanx for the advice, i'll take not of all of that!

[Invincible]

Oh by the way, I believe the Instructors trick you into do something you shouldnt be doing, so beware!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

why would they do that? There supposed to be teaching you the right things to do and not the wrong!

You know what? I HATE THE DRUMS!!!!!!!!! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_sad2.gif" alt="" />

[DevilsAdvo]

If you have a good instructor - what he is trying to do is demonstrate how the Policeman will try to catch you out.

It's easy!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Yea well thats what my instructor did today...he told me to turn right and there was a sign that means no right turn...and i was like "ummmmm excuse me?" and he just laughed at me and said thats what police will do on your test.

[DevilsAdvo]

Well done...

It's all about keeping a sharp eye...

I'm sure if you had indicated or turned into there the Instructor would have said NO! or hit the brake pedal...

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

yea imagine how embarrassed i would have felt as well!!! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_eek.gif" alt="" />

[DevilsAdvo]

If you do Ruwi, you need to be extremely carful. A few of the signs have collapsed or slid down the post so they are at floor level, or are obscured by buildings or trees.

Now THAT's fun!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

well i have to drive to ruwi every day for the drum lessons! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_whacko.gif" alt="" />
Is it me or does everyone have trouble with the drums sometiems????

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

I mean my major problem is knowing when to reverse...i mean your supposed to see the first drum and then also the second drum behind the other first drum or something...ahhh!!
It gets me so frustrated and its also really hot with the windows down, so i end up getting a headache and pissed off if I cant do it right !
And yesterday I hit a drum which totally lowered my confidence levels <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[DevilsAdvo]

hehehe



It's easy! Really!



If you're doing it off road where most practice areas are - look at the ground! You can see the tire marks of those who are successful and those who weren't! Guess which ones you follow when you are reversing with the drivers side closest?



On the other side, just watch for the first drum and make the back end swing around it...



Tips:



STAY WIDE. Do NOT get close to the drums! If you are far away when you still haven't turned - you have room to correct it!



Car - [==]

Drums - o



Problem:



---------



******[==]

<font color="red">o<!--color-->[/color]**o-----

o**o

o**o

o**o



You're likely to hit the red one in that diagram by turning too late.



No Problem:



---------

******[==]



o**o-----

o**o

o**o

o**o



You can see now - you have room to make the car perfectly straight before you are anywhere near.



Then - USE YOUR MIRRORS!



It's very hard to see when the car is perfectly straight and in some cars the drums are lower than the windows. Your mirrors will show you if the side of the car is lined up perfectly. Remember to use BOTH of them, not just one.



I used this method and I know a few others that did. If you master this - you will not hit the barrels at all!



I never did, even on practice!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

<img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_wow.gif" alt="" /> You make it sound so easy...hehehhehe
Well i have only hit the drum once in 8 lessons! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_biglaugh.gif" alt="" />

I guess im so used to hearing the instructor telling me when to stop and turn that I get sooo frustrated when im trying to do it myself coz im wondering if i have stopped to far back or still need to reverse slightly etc...

heheheh Thanks for all your help devil <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/anim_cutelaugh.gif" alt="" /> I really appreciate it alot!
And if anyone else has any other tricks or methods that they know, please share them with me..thank you!

[DevilsAdvo]

Because it IS easy!

The instructor will NOT be there on the day of the test. My instructor walked me through it once... after that it was on my own... practice practice practice. Never hit them. He went off and sat by all the other instructors and had a chat... one time he even went to prayers at the mosque.

Tell your instructor you need to do it yourself - only SHOUT if you're about to hit something so you don't dent his car!

[Smile]

My instructor gave me this method which worked well with me. To make sure if you're reversing on correct direction, you should be able to see the last drum (red)on the right hand side thru side mirror while you're still on turning point, at first drum on your left hand side.

It goes like this, I will use devil diagram

Car - [==]
Drums - o



[==]

o o-----You're here on the turning point
o o
o o
<font color="red"> o<!--color-->[/color] o

[rmooshilshargeya]

Question: i dont have my driver's license yet, but what do you suggest me going for...manual or automatic? and is it true that manual cars consume less petrol?!
B. al-7a2era ( like in zahrat il khalij) <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Well it depends how fast you want to get your liscence!
I mean, if you want to take less time then go for automatic, its much easier than manual. Manual takes longer to learn.
I guess the only down fall is that if you learn automatic, you cant drive a manual car but if you learn manual then you can drive both an automatic and manual!
<img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Rohit]

For some reason I find that many girls flunk the slope test. Guys rarely flunk it so the instructors never teach you handling the slope test.

If you are doing the manual car, ensure that you practice the slope test adequately.

[Mindazi]

Remember to drink Sun Top on test day for EXTRA ENERGY STRENGTH BOOST CALORIE

[Mary]

Small anecdote... the day I took my test, I was really nervous but I really wanted to pass, I love driving (even though I had no car of my own) <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Anyway, I did the drums and the policeman then indicated to me to drive to the slope area, and wait. I did this, and put the hand brake, I was ready, but as I turned to see his face for a sign to go ahead, I touched the horn with my right elbow, everyone turned around, I was soooo embarrased. But I had no time to feel worse cause I was told to go ahead! Anyway I passed but, boy was I shaking of embarrasement...

[Special]

eheheheh Mary, i guess what happened to me was much worse <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />



i was so nervous too, the day i took my test. When it was time for the drums, i drove the car to the line where i should stop then reverse the car through the drums. So when i was give the sign to start, instead of going reverse, i put the gear on number 1 and the car went forward <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

As a result of doing that i became more nervous that the car tunred off, and I couldnt restart it <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I tried more than 4 times, till i succeeded. Daaaaamn i was so emarressed coz there were more than 10 other cars waiting for their turn!!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

ohhh man that sucks!
ehehhe well i had a lesson at the drums today and i couldnt get it right this time! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
It was really hot and i had a headache coz i slept late yesterday night....damn!
<img src="/threads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> And im starting to feel like im not getting anywhere! <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> what do i do!!!?

[NaDa]

LooL ..i guess we all had embarrassing moments!

On that day,when it was my turn for the drums i was somehow confident that am gona do it.while reversing i heard BOOOOM, i turned to the police man and asked from the open window : Was that me? i felt he wud say: i'll leave that for ur smartness ! hehe

Well Morbid..U can do it <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

yea i really hope so!
<img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Smile]

I never had a problem with drums or slope I was very confident and I really made it at first attempt.



Hehe my problem was on the road, just being a trainee,I would not let anybody pass me by. I was very excited driving on the road and never bothered about the speed limits and my instructor got tired of screaming at me <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.



It was everytime I go for trial, I would comeback home in tears <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> and my Dad would say 'failures will make you a good driver'. It was till the fifth trial I got my licence, the dumb me <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

[Mary]

I thought crossed my mind now... and I don't mean to pick on you SMILE <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> , I was wondering, I know plenty of people who took the test 3, 4, 5, 6, times until they passed, so shouldn't we all be good drivers, then why are there so many accidents, are they mainly related to high speed and wrong overtaking, ie negligence and reckless driving?

[Invincible]

Most of the time it's high speed and negligence. There's a saying 'if you dont respect your car, it will kill you'.

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

YEA exactly invinci! But this is another issue all together!

[Special]

yeah, hey lets start a poll on How many trials have u done b4 getting ur driving license <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Okay sounds good to me <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Why dont you start it??

[Mary]

*off topic* Morbid your new avatar makes me think of those pokemon cartoons <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Special, go ahead with your poll.

[Special]

<a href="http://www.omanforum.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=Board=pollNumber=26267page=0view= collapsedsb=5o=fpart=1" target="_blank">How many driving tests did u have? </a>

[markybabes]

The dreaded driving test.. amazing really.. I passed first time in my home country but having to do the test here was amazing....

1st attempt: Passed the eye test... then failed the barrels...

2nd attempt: Passed the barrels... then failed the road test....

3rd attempt: PASSED the road test.... ( with a little help from my friends, if you know what I mean)<img src="/threads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />


cheers!

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

How many lessons of the drums did most of you all take before the drum test?
Just wondering?

[Jinan]

I used to take them everyday... I think majority of them take it everyday..

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

yea every day but for a month or 2 months.........?

[Nomad]

I took driving lessons for about 4.5 weeks. My dad was really strict, he wouldn't even let me move the car from the garage!

[DevilsAdvo]

Every day for two MONTHS!?!?!?!

You really think you need to spend 60 days, 60 hours, 300 Rials just to get the car between two barrels?

You should get the Barrel test nailed in a lot less time... If it's longer than a week or two then you're just not trying hard enough or focussing at all.

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

devil everyone is different.
Everyone can learn things at slower or faster rates. Juts because you managaed to 'focus' and pass the first time after 1 week or whatever...doesnt mean everyone else has the ability to do the same.
Does it mean we are stupid if we need to have drum lessons for a month or 2????? No i dont think so!
So before u make comments like that , which could cause some members to feel insulted or degraded, please think twice!
Thank u1

[Mary]

Morbid, I just remembered something. It is possible (or at least it was when I took my test) for someone other than your instructor to teach you to drive. I mean, when I was practicing for the test my father had his and my details with photos etc submitted to ROP, filled up a special application with ROP to get permission to teach me and he was issued with the L plates for his car. It's just an idea.

[Dabdoob_Al_Helwa]

Mary thanx for that <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Cheerzzz

[DevilsAdvo]

Morbid... seriously... 60 hours? 300 Rials?

That is a little excessive.

You shouldn't need that much practice to get it right.

Like I said, leave plenty or room and you'll be fine.

Or you could just go to your local practice area and spend a day watching people do things wrong and right.