Applying for new driving licence? You may have to ace 24 tests to get one

BENGALURU: With the increasing number of road accidents, many of them fatal, the state Transport Department has come up with 24 mandatory parameters to pass the driving licence test in the state.

The state Transport Department has implemented new rules under the Central Motor Vehicle Rule of 1989 (Rule No. 15), with the aim of preventing the increasing number of road accidents. The tests are meant to improve the driving skills of applicants and only those who clear all 24 parameters will get their driving licence.

Twenty-four mandatory rules have been decided by State Transport Department for Driving Licence test.

Some of the mandatory tests may be difficult for DL aspirants. Apart from driving on the test track, overtaking another vehicle and driving in top gear have been made compulsory. These will be done using simulators.

However, traffic experts have objected to the rules, stating that there is not enough testing infrastructure to enforce them. During a test drive, one cannot go in top gear on a test track because it is created for a maximum speed of 30-40 kmph and fast tracks are not created in the city. Also, most of the new four-wheelers come with six forward gears, so the question of which is the top gear can create confusion. Moreover, if an applicant meets with an accident while overtaking during the test, they will not even have insurance cover, they pointed out.

Transport Department Commissioner S N Siddaramappa said they are only implementing existing rules.

“These are not new. The rules are already mentioned in the Motor Vehicle Act of 1989, and we are just planning to implement them in the state. We want citizens to follow the rules in order to bring down the accident rate in the city. We have built test tracks for driving licence tests and they are not being used properly. That is why we are planning to implement all the rules”, said S N Siddaramappaa, Commissioner, state Transport Department.

Prof. M N Sreehari, a traffic expert, feels that simulator tests may not be enough to test driving skills.

“We are trying to reach the international standards, but they issue licences even if someone fails the written test. If the department tries to follow international rules in India, it will increase the risk of road accidents. The preparation which is required to implement the rules has not been made. Road infrastructure is also important. It’s difficult to overtake on a test track. On the road, an individual’s reflex action is also important and if we conduct tests on computers, it may affect the reflex action”, pointed out Prof. M N Sreehari, a traffic expert.