Majority of those applying for a driving licence have poor knowledge of traffic rules, shows RTO data.
A little over a fortnight after a new system of driving tests was introduced at the Western Regional Transport Office in Andheri, data concerning those who applied for driving licences during this period has confirmed the worst.
Most of those applying for permanent licences in the city either don’t know driving or have poor knowledge of traffic rules.
What is even more interesting is the fact that, many such applicants are enrolled in driving schools. This confirms the widely held assumption that driving schools are convenient windows through which to get a permanent driving licence.
According to the data available, after the use of the driving test track was started on January 17, 2,090 people applied for a licence. However, in the tests, only 1,203 passed; 462 failed, while 425 simply refused to give tests citing their inability or ill-preparedness to drive to complete that part of the test. While talking to DNA, deputy regional transport officer Bharat Kalaskar, who was instrumental in the introduction of the test track, expressed shock over the large number of applicants who did not know how to drive. “A substantial number of these applicants have come through the driving schools. Shouldn’t we expect them to at least know the basics of driving?” he asked.
Kalaskar added that the newly introduced strict measures have also exposed the illegal agent- and driving school-run licence business. He hoped that this will end the corruption that is rampant while getting licences. He said these measures would keep the roads safer by keeping bad drivers off the streets.
Another RTO official, who spoke with DNA on the condition of anonymity, said, “Previously, the number of applicants being denied licences was almost negligible. It was almost unheard of. People thought that paying the RTO officials small bribes would do the trick. As compared to that, this is a drastic improvement. However, this has also led to increase the work load of the officers who administer these tests. We have to consciously monitor the tests and also look at other administrative work. As it is, we are hugely short-staffed. The government should fill vacant posts as soon as possible if it is interested in result-oriented work from the RTO officials.”
The Andheri RTO is the busiest of the three RTOs in the city. It conducts between 300 and 400 tests every day.
The test track is a basic one; it tests the applicants’ skills in taking sharp turns, emergency braking, knowledge of traffic rules etc.
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