City Reports

Govt’s U-turn on automated driving track system; likely to be re-launched

August 17, 2019, 3:45 pm

RTO Jaipur

RTO, Jaipur. Image credit: Post Staff

Jaipur: The Rajasthan transport department has taken a U-turn on the automated driving track system. After having announced to shelve the project, the transport department has decided to use automated tracks to test the driving skills of driving license applicants. The proposal has once again been sent to transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas who had told the media persons two months ago that the project would be shelved due to irregularities in the tender process.

The project will be launched at 11 Regional Transport Office in the state in the first phase. Only Ajmer RTO will not be included in the project for now.

The RTO inspectors won’t be able to carry out driving license tests manually. The track will test the driving skills.

The RTO Jagatpura had used the tracks on a trial basis in March, but stopped the trials when the majority of the driving license applicants – almost 85% – failed to pass the test. Of the 80 people who gave trial on the track, 68 were declared not fit for license.

These people complained that they were declared unfit for license even on account of small mistakes. These people will need to pay the test fee – Rs 300 – again and go through the trial in a week.

The applicants go through four phases of the trial. In the first phase, they have to park the vehicle parallel and in an angular angle in 30 seconds. In the second phase, they need to drive forward and in reserve on an 8-shaped track in just 30 seconds. In the third phase, they get 70 seconds to drive on an H-shaped track while following all the traffic rules. In the fourth phase, the applicant needs to drive on an elated track with a height of up to 5 feet. If the driver couldn’t control the vehicle for 20 seconds, the sensors will go off.

Cameras automatically record the mistakes made by an applicant. The marks are reduced on the basis of the number of mistakes.

First published: August 17, 2019
Click on the following link(s) to find the latest & related stories on: