The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) issued amendments to Central Motor Vehicle Rules to address the poor driving skills of most drivers in India & the resulting low safety record. In a move to rectify this issue slowly while fixing it at grass roots level the government has decided to introduce new rules which will allow citizens to obtain a driving license without needing to give a test. While this may seem contradictory to the solutions, the aim is to have new drivers taught how to drive through comprehensive driving programs at Accredited Driving Training Centres, these drivers who clear the test at the ADTCs do not have to take another test while applying for a driver’s license at the Regional Transport Offices (RTO).
New Accreditation Centres & Their Features:
First & foremost, these new accreditation centres can be setup by anyone given, they meet the accreditation criteria set by the Centre – this also includes payment of accreditation fees of Rs. 50,000. The Accreditation Centre applications will be processed by State Transport Authority or a designated official from an agency authorized by the Central Government. Once accredited, the driver training centres receive accreditation for 5 years.
Sponsored LinksA new candidate seeking a driver’s license will be required to attend 29 hours of training sessions in 4 weeks, in which 21 hours will be practical training i.e., driving a test vehicle, 4 hours of theoretical lessons & 4 hours of virtual training in simulators which simulate a multitude of conditions like rain, fog, night-driving etc.
Accreditation Centres can also provide training for medium & heavy vehicles – this program will have 38 hours of training of which 17 hours would be theoretical sessions, 3 hours of virtual training and the remaining 18 hours for practical sessions. Practical driving sessions will include driving lessons on track & on road in real traffic. The theoretical lessons will cover issues like road rage, good driving habits, fuel-efficient driving, defensive driving etc. The government also wants to encourage teaching learners to drive more efficiently & use fuel-saving techniques. The ADTCs will also have remedial & refresher courses along with custom courses on offer.
Sponsored LinksADTCs Features & Must-Haves:
- 2-Acres in Plain regions or 1-Acre in hilly regions along with ample parking space for dedicated training vehicles.
- Virtual simulators for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) training and Commercial Heavy Motor Vehicles training.
- Computers, Multi-Media Projectors & teaching aids for conducting theory classes, online tests & evaluation.
- Dedicated driving track for trainees to practice maneuvering, parking, driving in reverse, inclined slope driving.
- Biometric attendance & record maintenance to ensure no mismatch of records/progress of trainees.