Surprise test for Delhi motorists

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

    
And you thought you know all the rules of traffic just because you hold a driving licence! The road ahead is full of bumps for Delhiites to whom breaking traffic rules has become second nature.

The Capital's residents holding valid driving licences registered in the state will be in for a surprise check of their knowledge about traffic laws and driving rules in the coming days.

After endless challans , traffic-awareness initiatives and advertisements, the Delhi Traffic Police recently came up with the idea to correct - hopefully - the common flaw with city motorists: little knowledge about traffic rules.

Every few days, a draw of sorts of motor vehicle licence holders will be conducted.

Whoever's name is picked, he or she will be called in for a surprise test.

In the test, the licence holders will have to answer some of the most basic questions related to the Motor Vehicle Act and other road safety laws, his or her general awareness about the traffic laws while driving and possible reaction to different traffic scenarios.

The aim is to "re-ascertain whether the licence holder is aware of the rules". The traffic police made the suggestion last month to the transport department, which issues licences.

Sources in the Delhi Police attributed the move to a very high number of traffic offences in the last one year.

Drivers weren't even aware of the basic laws.

For example, 1.69 lakh people were challaned in 2009 for defective number plates.

For improper parking, 6.43 lakh people were challaned in 2009, a jump of more than 89 per cent from 2008.

"In part, this increase in the number of challans is also because of our increased vigil on the road. But in most instances, we had to explain to the driver how he was offending the law and what the law asked of him. All these things should have been clear to him even before he got the licence in hand," the officer said.

In fact, the motorists' sheer contempt for and lack of awareness of the Motor Vehicle Act, especially Section 185 that deals with drunken driving, not only have led to serious road accidents but also resulted in more than 12,000 challans being issued in 2009.

"Our most serious recommendation to the transport department is to verify the licence holder's knowledge about the provisions of the Act.

Once that is taken care of, it should greatly help in improving the traffic situation in the Capital," the officer added.

In 2009, the traffic police recommended disqualifying over 1,760 driving licences issued by the transport department for violations of provisions of the Act.

So what would happen to the licence holder in case he flunks the "surprise test"? The police's letter doesn't give any particular suggestions.

But officers said perhaps the persons could be recommended for a "refresher course or their licences put on ' notice', whichever is considered more appropriate by the transport department." Transport department commissioner R. K. Verma denied knowledge of the traffic police communication.

"I am not aware of any such communication," he said.

Original news source http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/92738/India/Surprise+test+for+Delhi+motorists.html