Now Get A Driving Licence Without Giving A Driving Test, But Is That The Right Move?

There’s no need to undertake long visits to the RTO or wait in long queues

You will no longer be required to take any type of driving test by going to the RTO (Regional Transport Office or Road Transport Office). The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced new guidelines for the same. 

Licence Through Driving School

Without having to wait for any test at the RTO, licence aspirants can now register for it through any reputable driving training institution. The applicants will receive a certificate from the school if they complete the required training and pass the test there, based on which their licence will be issued.

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Which Driving Institutions Come Under ‘Reputed’?

The Union Ministry has laid down some rules the driving institution must fulfil to be considered eligible to issue certificates:

• A minimum of one acre of land must be available for training facilities for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and light motor vehicles, while two acres will be needed for centres for medium and heavy passenger cargo vehicles or trailers.
• Trainers should have at least a 12th grade diploma, have at least five years of driving experience, and a good understanding of traffic regulations.
• A teaching curriculum has also been recommended by the government. The course for operating light motor vehicles will last a maximum of four weeks and up to 29 hours. These driving schools will have a two-part curriculum.
• For 21 hours, people must learn to drive on basic roads, rural roads, highways, city roads, parking, reversing, and uphill and downhill driving, among other things. The theoretical portion of the course will last for eight hours and cover topics such as road etiquette, road rage, traffic education, understanding the causes of accidents, first aid, and fuel efficiency while driving.

If a driving school fulfils all the given conditions, it’ll be eligible to issue certificates. While this has been done to make the process of obtaining a driving licence easier, it might not suit everyone. If it doesn’t suit you, you can still get your driving license the conventional way, by visiting the RTO. 

Is It The Right Move?

In a country where road accident stats are horrifying, this feels like a move that is not only detrimental to improving road safety but also, will further perpetuate the lack of respect for the driving test system. The move to attend the RTO and undergo a proper driving test does increase the difficulty of getting a licence, even if by a smidge. But with this, driving schools will gain more power and be able to charge whatever sums they want to an applicant for a licence. So, this doesn’t feel like the right move.