An indefinite strike by driving schools across Kerala has thrown the plans of individuals seeking a driving licence into disarray.
Published May 03, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 03, 2024 | 8:00 AM
(Representational image/Wikimedia Commons)
An indefinite strike by driving schools across Kerala has dashed the aspirations of individuals seeking a driving licence.
The strike was sparked by discontent over a circular mandating stringent regulations for driving schools. It has now led to a stalemate between the protesting instructors and the government.
The bone of contention lies in a circular issued in February by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), which introduced rigorous provisions for driving schools when presenting candidates for driving licence tests.
It also mandated some tough assessments for the candidates as they had to undergo angular and parallel parking, zig-zag driving, and gradient tests as part of the ground test for getting a light motor vehicle licence (car).
It was announced that these provisions and measures would be enforced from 1 May.
These new regulations, perceived as burdensome and impractical by driving school operators, triggered protests that culminated in the ongoing strike.
Spearheading the protests are trade unions including CITU and INTUC and associations like the All Kerala Driving School Owners’ Association.
As a result, countless licence hopefuls find themselves in limbo, unable to progress with their plans to obtain a driving licence due to the impasse between the driving schools and the authorities.
Many aspiring drivers have expressed frustration and disappointment over the unforeseen delay, which has put their mobility and career prospects on hold.
At the Muttathara testing ground in Thiruvananthapuram, protestors were said to have blocked six applicants who arrived there for the tests. Similar incidents were reported in other parts of the state.
All Kerala Driving School Owners’ Association president Jayasankar Vilakapilly told South First that the provisions were anti-people and were being implemented without any scientific base.
“The minister is steadfast to implement it. We have approached the Kerala High Court against this circular. The court is expected to deliver its interim order on Friday. The department should have waited for the order,” said Jayasankar.
According to him, if the interim order went against them, they would file an appeal against it.
Representatives from driving schools asserted that the circular’s provisions were excessive and placed undue pressure on both instructors and learners.
They have been demanding the revocation of the circular, arguing for a more reasonable and pragmatic approach to licensing procedures.
At the same time, they also said they were not against the new reforms in their entirety but wanted more time for implementation.
The unions are mainly opposed to the directives to instal a dashboard camera on vehicles used for learning and testing, as well as the ban on vehicles older than 15 years for testing and learning.
The union leaders demanded that the 84 testing centres in the state should have the same facilities and that the tests conducted in all these centres should be uniform.
Conversely, government officials defended the circular, saying they were essential to ensure road-safety standards and the competency of drivers on Kerala’s busy thoroughfares.
They emphasised the importance of adhering to strict guidelines to mitigate the risk of accidents and uphold public safety.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated as the Minister of Transport KB Ganeshkumar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding stringent regulations despite the vehement protests.
His remarks, however, fuelled the controversy as he alleged mafia involvement in the demonstrations.
The comments immediately drew ire from the protesting driving school operators, who demanded a retraction.
Emphasising the paramount importance of road safety and the integrity of driving tests, Ganeshkumar stressed that the government would not succumb to threats or coercion from protesting factions. “Human life is paramount,” he said.
The minister also criticised the practice of hastily granting driving licences, cautioning against potential risks posed by inadequately trained drivers on Kerala’s roads.
A model of the new driving licence test
As per the 10-point circular, applicants will now have to undergo several real-life driving challenges and secure a pass to earn a licence.
The circular made it mandatory to have the road test on a road with traffic and to have tests on angular parking, parallel parking, zig-zag driving, and gradient testing before conducting an “H” test on the ground.
It was also mandated to have only 30 driving tests — 20 new and 10 from the earlier failed batch — per day.
As per the circular, only motorcycles with gear pedals on the leg above 95 cc would be allowed for a two-wheeler driving licence.
It added that no electric car or automatic car would be allowed for the four-wheeler driving test.
It also made it mandatory to have a dashboard camera and a vehicle location tracking device on the light motor vehicle used for testing, and these have to be installed by the driving school owner.
“The driving instructor should record the test on camera, and the memory card should be carried to the Motor Vehicles Inspector. This data will then be transferred to the MVD system, and the owner has to keep the memory card intact for the next three months,” reads an excerpt from the circular.
The circular also mandated that no vehicle aged above 15 years should be used for driving tests.
With no end in sight to the standoff, uncertainty looms large for individuals eagerly awaiting their chance to obtain a driving licence in Kerala.
(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)
