Licence To Be Fair

The city transport department to introduce vehicle simulators to test driving licence applicants. The method may curb accidents and weed out corrupt officials

Greasing palms of corrupt transport officials to get a driving licence may soon become a thing of the past.

The transport department is planning to introduce vehicle simulators, which will test drivers and mark them according to their performance. If they pass the virtual test, they will get their licence.

Transport officials say while obtaining a licence may become slightly costlier, the simulators will help to bring down the rate of accidents in the city and weed out corruption.

"The government, either itself or with the help of private parties, will install vehicle simulators in the city for training and testing those who approach the transport department for driving licences," said a senior transport department official, wishing anonymity.

Other than making the roads safe, officials hope the new technology will help curb corruption in the transport department.
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"The new method will reduce the monopoly of transport inspectors. The test will be programmed and applicants will not be marked by the inspectors.

They will get marks as per their performance on the virtual driving track," said the official.

Senior officials said that to begin with, the simulators will be used for training and will later be used for testing. Transport Commissioner RK Verma said the idea of virtual training was good but there was a hitch in the law.
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"The Motor Vehicle Act does not allow issuance of driving licence on virtual tests. Thus, the simulators can be used for training.
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But to use them for tests, the Act will have to be amended," said Verma, adding that no country issues licence on virtual testing.

Problems galore

The transport department is facing a space crunch. Most of its zonal offices do not have exclusive test drive lanes and applicants have to drive on busy roads.

"We are looking at more effective solutions for better training and testing of driving licence applicants.

The pilot project of videography of test drives has already started and there is no problem in introducing other
innovative methods as well," said Verma.

Almost real

Imported vehicle simulators can cost up to Rs 1 crore each. However, indigenousu00a0 ones can come for around Rs 20 to 30 lakh.

Many automobile companies use simulators to test their cars and drivers. The Maharashtra police have installed simulators for training its personnel.u00a0u00a0

What it does

The driving simulator is a virtual vehicle with an electric motor in place of the engine.

All the effects of hill driving, highway driving and rain driving can be customised in the simulator. All effects of real driving conditions can be incorporated as well.

It is very popular in Europe and Japan.

1,500

Number of new licences issued everyday in Delhi. Another 1,000 are renewed