Obtaining a driving licence (Dl) in the capital city is no longer an easy affair now. licence seekers are now required to pass the electronically simulated driving test track first to get licences. The Bhubaneswar RTO-I launched ‘simulator testing’ on Wednesday to test persons applying for a learner’s licence in the city.
Designed to look like a prototype of a car with brakes, accelerator, steering, clutch and gear in place, the contraption offers a computerised driving experience by simulating real-life regular and adverse conditions.
According to Regional Transport Officer (RTO) lal Mohan Sethy, a simulator uses computer software to mimic real life road situations and responds according to the driver’s inputs. It offers the learners the onscreen option to choose from a variety of climatic conditions, traffic situations and roads (highways or city roads) to drive, he added.
An applicant’s performance in the computerised system driving test would decide if he or she is worthy of getting a licence.
Earlier, an applicant had to give only a driving test for getting a licence in which one has to pass through just one type of climatic condition. But after one sits for simulator test, he/she has to enter various tests like driving a vehicle in wet and swampy roads, turnings, humps, moving off, stopping, reversing, parking and negotiating crossroads. The simulator promises to set new benchmarks in driving test in providing scientifically designed exposure for the new drivers, he pointed out.
Two simulators have been installed at Bhubaneswar RTO-I to test the new applicants seeking driving licence. The system would be introduced in other RTOs gradually, according to officials.