On anvil: Regulator for driving tests

More people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world. In a bid to try and reverse this trend,the government plans to set up a national-level regulator

More people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world. In a bid to try and reverse this trend,the government plans to set up a national-level regulator that would be entrusted with the task of preparing a standardised driving curriculum and test to be used by driving schools across the country.

All aspiring drivers would have to necessarily take training at an accredited driving school before applying for a drivers licence.

Over 115 million new vehicles are added to the roads every year and more importantly,a large number of young adults join our driving population annually. It is important to train them properly and make them aware of road safety practices,which can be ensured by such a national agency, an official source said.

The proposed agency would have a three-tier structure that would not only regulate and monitor proper training of aspiring drivers but also of their trainers and instructors. Under the plan,local driving schools would be set up all over the country to provide initial as well as refresher training to all motor vehicle drivers. At an intermediate level,driving schools and courses would be designed for teaching driver trainers and instructors.

Finally,a national level regulatory agency would monitor,audit and accredit all such local and intermediate driving schools.

The proposal was mooted at the National Road Safety Council NRSC meeting last week that was attended by Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi as well as state government officials. The NRSC,which is the apex body on road safety in India has now been asked to work out a blueprint for the new regulator.

The aim is to set up quality driving training schools that would have all the necessary infrastructure,teaching aids and qualified instructors for providing the best possible skills to new drivers, the source said.

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The government hopes to get the regulator operational over the next five years so that by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan,all potential drivers are taught and trained in accredited driving schools.

Sources said other stakeholders,including state governments and vehicle manufacturers,would also be roped in to the initiative.

The Blueprint

A three-tier structure to regulate,monitor training of aspiring drivers and also of trainers,instructors

Local driving to provide initial as well as refresher training to all vehicle drivers

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At intermediate level,driving schools and courses to be designed for teaching driver trainers and instructors

At national level,the agency would monitor,audit,accredit all such local and intermediate driving schools