Kerala Motor Vehicles Department to seek mandatory classes before driving test

KOZHIKODE: The motor vehicle department (MVD) will seek more stringent measures to streamline the process of qualifying new drivers. Officials say though the nearly 120 driving schools are authorised, and nearly 150 trainers are recognised, only half of the new drivers are joining them to learn. Kozhikode regional transport officer (RTO) C.K. Paulson said there were no measures to check whether a new driver had learned all the driving rules on the road, as there was no system to provide a certificate for attending a minimum number of classes that imparts lessons in safe driving.

"It is necessary to introduce rules like a participant who attends the test must have attended at least a minimum number of classes at a recognised school. Since there is no direct mechanism with the government to impart classes for the vast number of new drivers, the recognised institutions or driving schools can be entrusted with the mission," he said. He added that the department could not find any violation with the driving schools in the districts, but the only suspicion lies in the implementation part as it is likely to invite corruption when all the activities are through non-governmental channels.