Modern100 millionrupee track to test local drivers

Testing Sri Lankan drivers is to be streamlined under the government’s new road safety strategy by enhancing facilities for testing and licencing by the Motor Traffic Department (MTD).

The government has undertaken to construct a driver training track of international standard at a cost of Rs.100 million at the Werahera Office premises to conduct tests in a more streamlined manner, a senior official of MTD told the Business Times.

Now practical tests to obtain driving licences issued by the MTD are conducted on a district basis and accordingly the practical tests relevant to Colombo district are conducted at the Werahera office.

The Werahera office receives about 10,000 applications a month and currently practical tests are conducted on main roads. Conducting practical tests like this is a difficult task and in comparison to other countries this is an old process, he added.

Therefore the cabinet of ministers has approved the construction of a Driver Training Track at the Werahera complex.

For a population of 21 million, Sri Lanka has about five million vehicles and around 170 licences are issued per day at the Werahera office.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s driving schools numbering around 700 are to be streamlined and regulated upgrading the standard of driving instructors and aimed at producing disciplined drivers to minimise motor traffic accidents countrywide, he disclosed.

The permits of driving schools responsible for passing out indisciplined drivers would be withdrawn. The Transport Ministry has taken a decision not to issue new licences for driving schools without qualified driving instructors.

Driving instructor licences will only be issued to persons who have passed the examination conducted by the Examination Department under the supervision of the Motor Traffic Department.

He noted that special attention will be paid on enhancing awareness programmes for both drivers and pedestrians and improving training standards at driving schools.

He also noted that some driving schools are in the habit of training drivers on busy highways and crowded junctions ignoring traffic jams in the mornings, afternoons and at peak hours in the evening.