CHENNAI: Following the introduction of an automated system at the Regional Transport Office (
RTO) in Karur three months ago on a pilot basis, the number of applicants failing the
driving licence test at the digital track has shot up from 6% to 40%, shows official data.
This indicates that the conventional tests previously conducted by the RTOs were not foolproof and efficient, a senior official from the state transport department told TOI on condition of anonymity. “Only skilled and well-trained drivers can pass the tests at the newlylaid digital tracks,” he said.
As a result, there has been a 65% drop in the total number of candidates applying for driving licences at the Karur RTO.
As many as 283 individuals applied for licences to drive light motor vehicles since the inauguration of the digital testing track in May. Nearly 830 had applied for licences during the same period last year when tests were conducted manually, shows data.
However, this has not deterred the government from going ahead with plans to expand the pilot project to 13 other RTOs across
Tamil Nadu soon. “The transport department has instructed all the 140-odd RTOs across the state to make the licence testing process more stringent”, said an RTO official from Chennai.
Another official from the state government’s Institute of Road Transport (IRT) said most private driving classes do not train people adequately and except for steering control, there is not much a trainee can learn at these classes despite paying up to Rs 10,000 for it.
The track, set up at a total cost of Rs 40 lakh, has three components—a H-track, a slope and a sharp curve. Bollards or poles are fit on both sides of the track.
Process recorded for more transparency
An official from Institute of Road Transport (IRT) said most private driving classes do not train people adequately and except for steering control, there is not much a trainee can learn at these classes despite paying up to Rs 10,000 for it.
The track, set up at a total cost of Rs 40 lakh, has three components— a H-track, a slope and a sharp curve. Bollards or poles are fit on both sides of the track.
Driving licence applicants should be able to drive through all three types of tracks without hitting against the bollards or poles.
Vibration sensors fitted to all the bollards raise an alarm if the driver hits against the sides for the third time while passing through these components in the track.
A control room, set up right next to the track to monitor the movements, will generate a test report which is handed over to the applicant at the end of the test.
The entire process is recorded in order to bring in more transparency and eliminate the role of brokers.
Aggrieved applicants can apply for a video of their driving test by paying separately for it.
The number of applicants failing the driving licence test at the digital track has shot up from 6% to 40%, shows official data.
