The following article on Goa's road deaths appeared in
the local GOMANTAK TIMES, July 19, 2006:
The licence to kill
By FELINO D’SOUZA
(Published: GOMANTAK TIMES, July 19, 2006)
The license to kill and get killed... This is what the driving license has
been sadly reduced to. The ultimate purpose is to
produce quality drivers, but the honourable objective is lost because licensing
in India is so liberal that obtaining one is a
cake-walk. And this despite the alarming rise in road accidents.
Recently, a reader wrote in a letter that he was offered assistance by a
middleman to obtain his driving license outside one of
the RTO offices in Goa. Any youngster who has crossed 18 years of age arid who
can successfully demonstrate his ability bride along
the imaginary figure of eight and later identify a couple of traffic signs is
eligible for his driving licence. Well, if these are
the norms for obtaining an important
document, let us say our prayers before I we hit the road, either as
pedestrians or motorists.
Undoubtedly, liberal licensing is a major factor contributing to the high
incidence of accidents involving youth. Training in
road safety and traffic rules has taken a back seat. If you were to test the
knowledge of any average youngster in important aspects
of motoring, their driving licenses will probably have to be revoked. The fact
that last year 1,67,375 motor vehicle cases were
booked for various offences clearly exposes the lack of road discipline. In
all, 2938 cases were registered for rash and negligent
driving. A licence in the hands of a raw youngster fetches him authorized
access to the fanciful world of motoring, jeopardising his
own life and those of others.
Goa, with an area of 3,700 sq kms and a population of 1.4 million, has over
five lakh vehicles running on a road network of
9,600 kms. But as maintenance of roads in the state has not kept pace, with the
rapidly increasing volume of road traffic, add to it
indiscipline and liberal licensing, the accident statistics make alarming
reading.
Driving schools have mushroomed all over the state. Operating from small
offices and sometimes even from homes, imparting
training has become a profitable business with a steady stream of applicants.
However, other than showing the basics in the driver's
seat, they fail in their duty to produce quality drivers. The nexus between
driving schools and the licensing authority is an open
secret.
In other countries, the tests for issuing a driving licence are very
strict. In the United Kinggom, the driving age for a moped
or restricted-power motorcycle is 16 years. Until a driving test has been
passed (which consists of three sections: a theory test, a
hazard perception test, and a supervised driving examination a driver will hold
a Provisional Licence. A hazard perception test may
be unheard of here. The drivers must also be accompanied by an adult who is at
least 21 years of age and has held a full driving
licence for at least three years. If a person holding a provisional licence
receives points on his/her licence, they will be unable
to drive for six months.
In Northern Ireland, learner drivers are limited to a speed of 45 mph.
Drivers who have passed their test within the previous
year must display a "R" plates (restricted) and are also limited to a speed of
45 mph until the expiry of the restricted period.
Points are given for traffic offences, e.g. typically three to six points
for a speeding offence. Points remain on the licence
for four years from conviction (eleven years for drink and drug related
convictions) - twelve points on the licence makes the driver
liable to disqualification by a court, but not automatic disqualification,
contrary to popular belief. There are several other
penalties.
In the U.S. and Canada, most states require new drivers to complete both
driver’s education classes (which include both
classroom lectures and textbook lessons) and driver training (behind the wheel
lessons with a state licensed driving instructor) in
order to earn a driver's license. In New South Wales, Australia, the new
drivers must proceed through three different stages before
gaining a full, unrestricted licence. Allowing
for the mandatory periods of time between each licence, the effective minimum
age of full licensing is 20.
But consider the norms in India, the minimum age is 16 years for small
motorcycles (50cc or less) and 18 for all other vehicles.
Drivers have to appear for an oral test to get a learners licence which is
valid for 6 months. Drivers can then pass a simple
driving test to get the full drivers licence.
It is high time the entire system is revamped. An important document like
the driving license should not come so easy. The
licences of substandard driving schools need to be revoked or they should be
made to upgrade their training system, which should
include theoretical and practical aspects of driving. Middlemen seen soliciting
customers within the RTO premises should be booked
for creating public nuisance. Traffic cops should be trained and empowered to
spot-test rash and negligent drivers/riders for their
knowledge of traffic rules/signs and to suspend Iicenses of the incompetent.
The access to a full driving license should be in multiple stages with a
specific time interval between the stages. It would
also be a good idea to introduce a legislation whereby restrictions are imposed
on the driving licenses of youth in the age group of
18 to 21 years so that during these formative years when they are most
vulnerable to critical errors, they are restricted to driving
safer bikes in a predetermined range of power. This will go a long way in
reducing the number of fatalities involving young riders.
A system of points needs to be introduced on lines with the European
countries whereby points are recorded in the individual
driving licenses for various traffic offences. Accumulation of certain points
should attract disqualification and re-examination.
The idea and purpose of any punishment should be to compel the offender to
repent and refrain from repeating his offence. In India,
fines for traffic offences are negligible in comparison to the gravity of the
offences, and definitely do not serve as a deterrent
to habitual offenders. Let us make riding and driving safe. That should be the
catch word.
(Felino D'Souza is a master mariner working for a reputed Hong Kong based
ship management company.)
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