Interfering RTA plans background checks for carpooling

The hyper-active RTA has another bee in its bonnet. Motorists must now register for a special license to carpool, with the RTA doing background checks on drivers and passengers. The aim, apparently, is to crack down on unlicensed taxis, but it smacks of the RTA exerting another level of control.

It is another case of the sledge hammer being used to crack a nut. Carpooling is already a harmless reality, one that should be encouraged rather than stigmatized. Does the RTA seriously expect thousands of commuters to go and register - and wait on another layer of bureaucracy?

A straw poll in this office suggests at least one in four have shared a lift with colleagues, around 10 per cent do so every day. Payment is often nothing more than a morning coffee.

Dubai’s traffic is already enough of a headache, RTA meddling is no pain relief.