The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
Protests bring driving tests to a halt in State
Associations of driving schools a liated to various trade unions protest against reforms proposed to driving test format. Boycott prompts Motor Vehicles department to call o test proceedings for the day. Minister says State will go ahead with new format,
The State government’s bid to switch to the revised driving licence test format hit a stumbling block on the rst day itself with driving schools across the State boycotting the tests en masse on Thursday, forcing the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) to call o the test proceedings for the day.
Driving schools’ associations, including unions aliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), and the All Kerala Driving School Owners Association, which have been opposing the reforms, boycotted the tests.
Ground barricaded
In Malappuram, members of a union aliated to the CITU barricaded a ground, preventing entry of vehicles and candidates. In Kozhikode, union members protested against the decision by wearing black badges and denying entry to vehicles and candidates to a test ground at Chevayur where 51 candidates had booked slots for tests. However, no one turned up for the tests in the wake of the protests. In several places, including at Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram,
candidates did not show up following the protests. At other places where people reached the test venues, the protesters did not allow them entry.
In Kasaragod, the MVD authorities informed the candidates that driving tests had been suspended until May 24.
Meanwhile, Transport
Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar told the media that the State would go ahead with the revised driving test format.
The State had “no plans” to hold talks with the protesters. A new circular would be issued soon suggesting the changes proposed by the MVD in the driving tests.
On the other hand, the associations made it clear that they would boycott the driving tests and learners’ tests until the order on reforms was withdrawn.
What the circular says?
The MVD, in a circular in February 2024, revamped the driving test format by introducing angular parking, parallel parking, zigzag driving, and gradient test, which should be conducted on separate tracks, as part of the ground test. However, the department has decided not to implement all the reforms as the authorities are yet to arrange driving test venues for the revised test format.
As part of this, the department has decided to hold the road test rst with some changes, and only those who clear the road test will be allowed to take the ground test.
Further, though the number of applicants taking the driving test with a motor vehicle inspector (MVI) and an assistant motor vehicle inspector (AMVI) was restricted to 30 a day, it has been decided not to enforce it strictly and to allow 60 applicants for the time being. However, a circular suggesting the changes has not been not issued.
As per the revised test format, in the category of ‘motorcycle with gear,’ only vehicles with gear operated by foot and with engine capacity above 95cc can be used for the driving test. Similarly, vehicles older than 15 years shall not be used for learning to drive or for licence tests starting May 2.
Automatic vehicles
Applicants taking driving tests on vehicles with automatic gear or automatic transmission and electric vehicles will not be able to drive vehicles with manual gear. These vehicles should also not be used for driving tests under the LMV (light motor vehicles) category, as per the new reforms.