Getting a driving licence to become tougher soon

Getting a driving licence will soon be tougher. The transport department has decided to make the process of issuing driving licences stricter to ensure that only those who have proper and safe driving skills can obtain a licence.

Getting a driving licence will soon be tougher. The transport department has decided to make the process of issuing driving licences stricter to ensure that only those who have proper and safe driving skills can obtain a licence.

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According to senior transport department officials, special tracks will be built to test the applicants’ driving skills. The lanes will be designed in such a way that they will check the drivers' skills in different situations on the city’s roads.

Currently, the motor vehicle inspectors ask the applicants to drive along a short stretch either inside the premises of the zonal transport office or somewhere close by.

“The applicants’ driving tests on the lanes will be videographed. The video will be examined by a panel of inspectors.

They will send their findings to the department headquarters, where the licence will be issued based on the drivers’ performance,” said Ranjeet Singh, deputy commissioner, transport.

“The new process will be in place in two to three months. The idea behind making the process stringent is to ensure that driving licences are issued to people who can drive properly. We hope this will help bring down road accidents here where hundreds of vehicles hit the roads everyday making the roads narrower for driving,” said a senior transport officer.

The transport department is now trying to identify the locations where the special tracks for the driving tests can be laid. Some tracks will be made at the DTC bus depots. Sources said the transport department has identified a piece of land in Chhatarpur area in south Delhi.

Delhi traffic police have also been asking the transport department to make the process of issuing driving licence stricter for some time.

“If the driving licence issuing process becomes stringent, road mishaps will come down drastically as many road accidents occur due to improper driving,” said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

Last year, a total of 882 people died in 848 accidents, while this year, the accident figure during this period has come down to 759 showing a decline by 10.49%. Similarly, fatalities have also come down this year to 782 showing a decline by 11.33%.