Driving Licence in Oman - Some tips for the Road test

TIPS for newly arrived expats on how to maximise your chances of clearing the dreaded Oman Road Test!!

When I got to Oman, the first major issue was the utter lack of any sort of viable public transport.
No autos, no buses, no metro, no nothing...
The only mode of transport available is the taxi - by Government order only to be driven by local Omani citizens. But they are so expensive that they are practically not viable as an alternative.
So the only viable option is to buy a car and drive it yourself.

That is where the trouble starts. For the lucky few who have driving licences from "favoured" countries including UK, US, Canada etc. its just a simple matter of getting your existing driving licence exchanged for the local Omani one.

But for "commoners" from other nations, it means passing a drums test, a slope test and finally the notorious road test.
The drums test and slope test are exempted for drivers who can produce evidence of having an existing driving licence valid for at least two years from their native country, duly endorsed by the respective embassy.

Fortunately, the drum and slope test are fairly easy and normally not an issue to pass.
The drum test involves reversing your car into a row of barrels placed perpendicular to your car without touching any of them.

The slope test involves moving your car on a slope without rolling backwards.
Most people pass these on the first attempt or maximum on the second attempt.

The road test however, is another matter. I know people who have attempted it more than 15 times without success, spending more than OMR 1000 in the process.
Some have even given up and gone back to their native country in frustration.

Good drivers who have been driving for years in their native countries have been frustrated at their attempts to pass here.
By God's grace, I managed to pass my driving licence road test in the very first attempt.

I'd like to share my experience for those who might benefit from it.

Training:

1. The specific trainer is not important. 

My trainer was someone who had been training a few of my colleagues, and almost all of them had dropped him and gone on to someone else. Some of these people are still trying. 
Pick a trainer who speaks a language you can understand.
Unless you can understand fully what your trainer is trying to teach you, you will make mistakes in the road test.
If you don't understand something, make sure to ask him and clarify properly.
Don't pay a package upfront to him. 
Pay only on a hour by hour basis. 
Don't keep your green book with him at all.

2. Be cool headed when training:

I'm a very senior doctor and have been driving in India since I was 18. 
Still during a few lessons, my trainer would shout and scream at me when I made mistakes.
Never be put off by the shouting and screaming.
Internalise the point he is trying to make and ignore the rest.
If your trainer is a mild person, all the better!
Try not to make the same mistake more than twice when training.
When your lesson is finished for the day, spend 10 minutes going over all the mistakes you made and how you can prevent them the next day.
Treat the trainer with respect. He is your teacher after all.

3. Road driving:
Don't go for a road test unless you make less than 2 "minor" and NO "major" mistakes in an hour's driving lesson. Some of the "major" mistakes include crossing the yellow line, not giving enough space ahead from the car in front of you, searching for gears, using the wrong lane for manoeuvres, switching lanes without using mirrors and checking the "blind spot", not using indicators especially to exit a roundabout and turning in the wrong direction or illegally.
Most people are ok with their road driving. 
The rules are simple. 
Always depress your clutch completely. Never ever should your gears make that horrible grinding noise.
Don't touch the yellow line at any cost. 
Don't allow any vehicle to overtake you in your lane. 
Take the correct lane for the manoeuvre you are asked to do. 
Keep to the speed limit and don't go below 5 kmph below the speed limit unless absolutely essential. 
Drive smoothly without jerks or sudden starts or stops. 
Switch gears at the correct speeds up and down. 
Look at the road signs carefully and follow them strictly. 
Always use your indicators for any movement of your vehicle sideways. 
Horn when necessary and don't when not. 
Allow pedestrians full rights. 
Give right of way. 
Learn all the one-ways in your entire route by heart. Note them down after each driving lesson.
Learn the speed limits of each road in your route by heart.
Leave the correct space from the vehicle in front.
Slow down at roundabouts smoothly and maintain the correct speed at the line to enable you to stop or proceed as required without a jerk.
Roundabouts are always negotiated in second or at most third gear (only for empty and large roundabouts).
Never stop in the road or a roundabout unless for safety reasons.
Use your hazard warning lights judiciously for sudden braking or stopping. Switch them off only after you have got going.
Use your three mirrors at all times.
Stop completely at all stop signs. Complete halt is essential.

Never keep in the fast lane unless absolutely essential.
Look left, right and left again before going right.
Look right, left and right again before going left.
Never overtake unless your trainer instructs you to do so. Do it smoothly and return to your lane after completion. Use mirrors and indicators.

4. Parking areas:

Parking areas are the most confusing. 
Make sure that you learn the directions of each passageway in each parking area in your route.
I found it useful to get out of the vehicle at each parking area and memorise the entire topography including the signs, one-ways and restricted zones so that one can use the parking area even blind folded!!
Always stop at all stop lines,
Never cross a white unbroken line across your lane without stopping.
Never ever cross a white unbroken divider line for any reason.
When parking keep the car in the middle of the two lines and parallel to the lines. Keep about a foot and a half in front. Front wheels should be centered.
Gear release first and then handbrake release. Same order when applying them.
When reversing out of parking, keep to the middle of the lane in one way areas. In two way areas, reverse into the lane going in the direction you want to go. Use mirrors, indicators and your head and neck too to check for obstructions. Keep your car and steering straight before going forward.
Never go over a hump at 3rd gear. Only first or second gear. Second gear preferred.

5. The roundabouts:

The trainer will give you the following instructions. 
Please note the directions and the lane you have to take:
Roundabout Right 
Roundabout Straight
Roundabout left
Roundabout comeback
NEVER change lanes in a roundabout!!

This is for a two lane roundabout.
The green line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts for a right turn and straight ahead manoeuvres.

The red line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts for a left turn and comeback (basically a U-turn) manoeuvres.

You need to use the indicators for all exits at the roundabout except the straight.
Note that you exit at the fast lane for the left and comeback turns. Use indicators and your mirror to revert to the slow lane after completing the manoeuvre.

This is for a three lane roundabout.
The yellow line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts for a right turn and straight ahead manoeuvres.

The blue line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts for a left turn and comeback (basically a U-turn) manoeuvres.


You need to use the indicators for all exits at the roundabout except the straight.

Note that you exit at the fast lane for the left and comeback turns. Use indicators and your mirror to revert to the slow lane after completing the manoeuvre.

Complex roundabout manoeuvres:

Sometimes they will ask you to take one or two complete rounds of the roundabout before exiting.

What the point of this is, I really don't know, but that is the road test for you!! :)

Complete roundabout and right turn:

Note that the lane taken is different from the ordinary right turn:

This is for a two lane roundabout.
The red line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts.

You need to use the indicators for the exit.

Note that you exit at the fast lane. Use indicators and your mirror to revert to the slow lane after completing the manoeuvre.

Complete roundabout and straight:

Note that the lane taken is different from the ordinary straight:

This is for a two lane roundabout.
The red line shows the lane to be used and the lane for exit at the roundabouts.

You need to use the indicators for the exit.

Note that you exit at the fast lane. Use indicators and your mirror to revert to the slow lane after completing the manoeuvre.

6. The road test:

The day before the actual driving test you can ask your trainer to find out from the ROP notice board, the area in which you will face the test.
Spend two hours the previous day and one hour the day of the test going over and over that single area focusing on the one-ways, parking areas and signal light areas.
Try your best not to make more than two mistakes in these lessons. Don't be tense or nervous during the test. 
Remember it is not a matter of life and death whether you pass or not.
Take it cool and easy. Try singing or humming your favourite song while you are waiting for your turn. Smile at everyone, it relaxes you and puts you in a good mood. Thumbs up to others taking the test that day!!
Wish your ROP examiner good morning or similar. Be pleasant.
Check your seat belt and your examiners seatbelt is on. My examiner purposefully did not put his belt on and asked me to proceed. I just politely asked him to put his seatbelt on.
Check your mirrors again. They can get dislodged again while the ROP examiner is getting in.
Listen carefully and concentrate hard for the next 20 minutes. 
Keep your mind blank except for what you hear from the examiner. Follow his instructions to the dot. 
Look for traps in his instructions. He will try at least twice to make you go in no entry zones or park in handicapped slots. Don't fall for it. Answer loudly and clearly "No right here" or "Handicapped parking, no parking here". Then don't stop. Just carry on till you hear his next instruction.
If there is no further instruction, go right at the next legal right (if he has asked you to go right) or park at the next legal parking (if he has asked you to park).
Do what you did in training in the morning and you will definitely pass.
The ROP examiners are very fair and will not fail you without reason.
Drive perfectly and you will pass 100%
If you felt that you drove perfectly, you are entitled to ask the ROP why you failed and where.
You are also entitled to complain to the ROP if you felt you were wrongly failed.
Your trainer will not be the correct person to tell you where you went wrong. That would be the ROP examiner.

That's about it. Wish you luck and God's blessings in your next road test.

P.S.: If you found this blog write up useful and you successfully passed the driving tests, please do comment below. It will be of great help to people who are attempting the tests and will make them feel encouraged! Thanks!

A Big Storm and Big Birds

The Speaking Tree | The Times of India | Sunday, 22, 12, 2010

When there is a severe storm, birds with small wings are caught up in it, but large birds with strong wings fly upwards and save themselves from becoming victims of the storm.

On the basis of this phenomenon, there is a saying in the English language: " Big birds of the storm." This applies to people of high thinking, to those who can save themselves from the environmental storm. That is, they can live on their own without becoming affected by the external world.

Who are the 'big birds' of the storm? They are the 'big bird thinkers', who can live independently, drawing on their own mental resources. Big bird thinkers are those who do not become angry even when provoked. They are those who maintain their positivity even in negative situations, who can control their thoughts in such a way that they can see all men and women as human beings, whether friends or foes, and who can keep the peace even if others turn violent.

'Big bird thinkers' are those who are so mature that nothing can distract them from their objectives, who give well-considered responses when in adverse situations, rather than simply indulging in an emotional backlash.

There is a saying in Hindi "Kutte bhonkte rehte hain aur hathi chalta rehta hai " - the elephant walks on without being disturbed by barking dogs. This is the best illustration of one who has the capacity for 'big bird thinking'. Life is full of storms, full of barking, full of untoward situations - these things are due to the laws of nature and no one is in a position to abolish the laws of nature. So, you have only two options: either to waste your time and energy by constantly stooping to reactionary behaviour or to ignore all undesirable situations and try to live like the elephant in the adage. Elephant-style living is the only successful way to live in this world.

'Big bird thinking' is only another name for spiritual thinking. Spirituality is not something mysterious: it is positive thinking. All spiritual people are positive thinkers and all positive thinkers are spiritual in nature. Spirituality and positive thinking are almost synonymous with each other.

There is a beautiful story in Hindu mythology: Once a man became furious and he kicked Ram in the chest. Ram's response was quite unique. He said: "Mere lokhan seene se tumhare komal paunwen ko chot to nahi lagi?" - I hope your soft leg was not hurt by my iron chest.

Spiritual behaviour is friendly behaviour towards every human being -- to both friends and foes alike. Spiritual behaviour is like the behaviour of flowers that can live with all their fragrance in the neighbourhood of thorns.

An Urdu poet has beautifully expressed this: "Gulshan parast houn ,mujhe gul hi nahi azeez, kaaton se bhi nibha kiye ja raha houn mein." - I am a lover of nature, I don't only love flowers, but I can live normally with thorns as well.

Spirituality is good for the all-round development of the individual's personality, for it makes you free of tension and friendly towards all. Spirituality is the way to all kind of success.

Positive thinking makes you a 'big bird thinker' and 'big bird thinking' imbues the human character with spirituality. Although this is an inner quality, it is this inner quality that has the power to better all your external affairs.

A stammerer's victory!

If you have ever read the stories of Alice in Wonderland, you understand the meaning of nonsense. Floating teapots and falling down a well, talking Cheshire cats, and a deck of cards with the likeness of humans are just small creations from the mind of author Lewis Carroll. Even more interesting is the fact that the author's real name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He was born in 1832 and passed away in 1898 and is the man behind the famous books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

From a young age, Lewis Carroll was enamored with magic. He grew up in a large family that included 11 children. He was the oldest. With so many younger siblings to entertain, Lewis Carroll employed his wit and fancy for nonsense and whimsy to help occupy his brothers and sisters. While his stories may be full of mischief and magic, he was also a renowned mathematician and logician. In fact, after graduating Christ Church College in Oxford, he stayed there as a professor and lecturer for many years.

Lewis Carroll had many interests besides writing fantasy fiction. He perfected the art of photography and enjoyed taking pictures of children. Some of his clients were rich and famous and one in particular, was the subject that the character Alice from Alice in Wonderland was based upon. Her name was Alice Liddell and she was the daughter of the dean at Christ Church College in Oxford. After taking her pictures, he imagined the whimsical tales and adventures of Alice in Wonderland and based the drawings of the character on her images.

Lewis Carroll was also interested in religion and sought out deacon's orders in 1861. Unfortunately, due to a speech impediment, he was never fully ordained feeling as though he would not be able to speak well in front of a congregation. Undiscouraged, he began writing with passion and created his famous books as well as comic books and children's stories. The Hunting of the Snark, Jabberwocky, Sylvie and Bruno and various humorous children's works were included in his writings however, none were as successful as Alice in Wonderland was.

While Lewis Carroll attended college, he was home schooled during his youth. When he turned 12, his family sent his away to school in efforts to help him with his disability and find the challenges necessary for his gifted mind. What many people did not know is that his speech stammer was only evident in the company of adults. When he was teaching children or recreating his stories of fantasy and nonsense, his speech was literally perfect. This has many people believing that he suffered more from an anxiety disorder than a speech disorder. It is speculated that as a way to incorporate his troubles with speech into his literature, the character from Alice in Wonderland called the Dodo who had frequent trouble getting his words correctly, was actually outlined after Carroll himself.

Many people attribute the board games today, such as Scrabble and Word Ladder, as inventions of Lewis Carroll. Along with his passion for nonsense, he also thoroughly enjoyed challenging activities based on logic. He wrote philosophical pieces such as What the Tortoise Said to Achille, which along with others was published in professional journals during the late 1800's. Many things about his life have been revealed through his personal diaries. Interestingly enough, 7-8 pages of his 13 diaries are missing leaving behind plenty of mystery and speculation. This is not surprising for a creative man like Lewis Carroll and seemingly fits his ideals for fantasy.