Automated driving track a tough test to crack

NEWDELHI: Delhi’s first automated driving test centre has opened for the public at Sarai Kale Khan and more than half of the aspirants are failing it every day.

Transport officials said that the centre, opened to public a week ago, has seen a drastic fall in successful tests as compared to the usual driving tests conducted in other parts of the city.

“The number of test takers has fallen from 300 per day to only about 120. Of this, only 50 people are passing the test on the new track. Earlier over 75% used to pass. The new system will ensure that only quality drivers are allowed on roads. It’s a big step towards road safety,” said Nand Gopal, motor licensing officer, Sheikh Sarai.

This automated centre caters to most of South Delhi because all applicants at the licensing office in Sheikh Sarai are being diverted here.

Awaiting a formal inauguration, the centre reduced human interference as the licensing officer now only needs to monitor errors made by a driver from the control room.

The test taker has to reverse her car on S-shaped tracks, then drive uphill and swerve at bends shaped like an ‘8’. All the moves and errors are marked by sensors on bollards and CCTV cameras placed at a height of 20 feet. Two-wheeler riders need to prove riding skills in a ‘serpentine’ track. Those who are able to ride on the track without deviating from the marked lines within a stipulated time will ‘pass’.

“People are finding t he S-shaped track and parallel parking tests the most difficult. Ideally, the entire test needs to be finished in 10 minutes and the certificate is auto-generated. For now, we are allowing more time to drivers. The auto-generated certificates will be started after the formal launch,” said a transport department official.

The Delhi government also plans automated test tracks in 11 other places, including Rohini, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar Phase-i, Vishwas Nagar, Lado Sarai bus terminal, Shakur Basti, Raja Garden and Hari Nagar.

Three others are being built on the transport department’s land in Jharoda Kalan, Burari and Loni road.

Presently, driving tests are almost informally taken on main roads, which is not only dangerous but also raises questions about credibility.

The officers-in-charge at Sheikh Sarai, for instance, had often complained about conducting driving tests on the busy Meharuli-badarpur road.