VIJAYAWADA: Learners aspiring to get a driving licence from the transport department should come thoroughly prepared as the officials have proposed to develop automated driving test tracks in nine cities of the State to reduce road accidents. According to the information available with transport department officials, the new tracks will be developed at an estimated cost of `9 crore at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Nellore, Chittoor, Kurnool, Tirupati, Anantapur, Guntur and Srikakulam.
Sensors and CCTV cameras on the test track will be laid underground and motor vehicle inspectors will not be present on the track. They can either watch live the aspirants driving or in a recorded video at their office. The devices will alert the motor vehicle inspectors as soon as the aspirant enters the track with a vehicle.
The sensors on the track will beep if there are faults in driving and the officials can view the footage. There will be marks on the tracks wherever a person makes mistakes. Based on the report, the officials will decide on whether to issue a driving licence or not.
Speaking to TNIE, Joint Transport Commissioner SAV Prasad Rao said, “Earlier, aspirants had to attend four types of tests to get a learning and a permanent licence. As hundreds used to attend the tests everyday, it was difficult for officials to inspect everyone and many ineligible people got driving licences. To avoid this, the department proposed to introduce the new system in nine cities of the State’’.
The Central Government has sanctioned `9 crore to develop automated driving test tracks in the State. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will install the sensors and CCTV cameras which will be laid below the tracks. Already, the motor vehicle inspectors in the respective centres have been directed to improve the infrastructure of the tracks before the installation of sensors and CCTV cameras. Soon after the completion of works, the NHAI officials will upgrade the existing tracks into automated driving test tracks, he added.