Statistics with the Centre show that drivers are to be blamed for 80 per cent accidents on the Indian roads every year. Taking note of it, the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways have decided to train the drivers and fine-tune the driving license test.
The study with the Ministry shows that of the 4.98 lakh road accidents in 2012, in 78 per cent cases, drivers were at fault.
“In India, there is a severe shortage of educated drivers, and this is a severe handicap that we are trying to fight,” said Oscar Fernandes, Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
“Heavy vehicle drivers, although small in number, are responsible for disproportionate number of deaths. The Ministry has felt the need to provide training to these drivers,” he said.
Fernandes said that the Ministry has given a go-ahead for 13 driver training institutes in public-private partnership. “These schools will have world class infrastructure, innovative driving testing systems and skilled trainers. We want to provide rigourous training to all drivers but particularly those behind the wheels of commercial or heavy duty vehicles,” he said. “In the 11th plan, the Ministry had first sanctioned the setting up of model driving training institutes in about nine States and in the 12th plan, the Ministry again set aside funds for setting up regional driving training centres under public-private partnerships,” said an official from MoRTH.
“While we realise the need for educated and trained drivers, but these changes can not be expected overnight. According to the rulebook, all drivers are expected to know English and are also required to be educated up to standard X, but it is not possible in a country as vast as ours,” said an official. The Ministry is also proposing to make rigourous changes in the tests for obtaining driving license, in keeping with countries like the United Kingdom and United States of America.