Nearly 60 per cent of driving licence holders in India never passed driving test!

New Delhi: In countries like Japan and Finland, driving tests are one of life's most scary experiences but ofcourse not in India!

A survey exposes the bitter truth of country's licensing system which revealed that six out of 10 people get their driving licence without passing the mandatory test.

Survey, conducted by road safety and advocacy group - Save LIFE Foundation, also included the five metro cities which have the highest vehicle population.

Highlights from the survey:

- About 88 per cent people in Agra got their driving licences without sitting for the driving test.

- This was followed by Jaipur with 72 per cent drivers and 64 per cent in Guwahti.

- Regional Transport Ofices (RTOs) in Delhi and Mumbai too provide licences to about 54 per cent and around 25 per cent people respectively without asking them to undergo a driving test.

The survey report took the version of around 59 per cent people of the total covered who admitted that they gave a miss to the driving test but still are licence holders.

It is worth mentioning that the survey comes at a time when the Rajya Sabha is set to discuss amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, which have been passed by the Lok Sabha.

The amendment suggested in the act is to conduct an IT-based driving test of applicants.

“The fitness of a person for issuing driving licence will be decided through a computer programme with no human interference,” Gadkari said underscoring the ministry’s step towards enhancing road safety.

Functioning of RTOs

- A total of 997 RTOs across India issues over 1.15cr fresh or renewed driving licences every year.

- On an average, nearly 40 licences are issued by each RTO on any working day and a maximum of 130 by the RTOs in the country capital Delhi.