New computerised driving-testing system to eliminate corruption

A camera-based innovative driving testing system that will ensure a technology-oriented assessment of the driving quality of license-seekers without human intervention will be inaugurated by union Road Transport, Highways & Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari in Pune Saturday.

This technology at the Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTR) will enable promotion of a corruption-free platform for granting driving licenses and selection of drivers, ensuring the applicant's quality.

The camera-based system has been developed by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), Pune as an advanced version of the earlier sensor-based testing technologies which are in place at some locations.

The CIRT is a part of the road safety initiatives taken by Gadkari as transport minister, a ministry release said.

Eight IDTRs are being set up across the country under the aegis of the ministry during the 11th Five Year Plan. CIRT also plays the role of monitoring agency on behalf of the ministry for setting up the IDTRs. The IDTR at Pune has been set on a PPP basis with Tata Motors.

The IDTR has state-of-the art facilities, including spacious class rooms equipped with audio visual facilities, a driving range for imparting driving practice on the road for various maneuvers, a driving laboratory displaying aggregate and cut-section models, a testing laboratory for checking physical characteristics, a workshop for routine maintenance activities, a library and a hostel with a capacity of 75 participants. Two driving simulators have also been installed in the IDTR for imparting pollution-free training to the trainees on a range of cognitive skills to deal with complex roadway and traffic conditions.

The training will be conducted by well-trained driving instructors to impart practical, systematic and scientific training to new drivers as well as in-service drivers along with trainers. The IDTR also proposes to train exclusive batches of women drivers for city cabs. This will give a boost to the road safety initiative of the road transport ministry and will also play a catalytic role for the government's development programme.

India has one of the highest rate of road accidents in the world and the new government has set a target of reducing the accident rate by 50 percent in the next five years. This would be achieved with improved driver training, better road conditions, efficient enforcement and safer vehicle technologies, the ministry said.

The ministry has already released a draft of the new Road Transport & Safety Bill 2014 inviting suggestions from the public and stakeholders. It has also discussed the provisions of the bill in the recently concluded Transport Development Council meeting with the transport ministries of various states. The ministry aims to introduce the bill in the winter session of parliament in November-December.