[srj1266]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india...871232643.html

The Supreme Court’s five-judge Constitution bench on Wednesday ruled that a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle (LMV) is entitled to drive a transport vehicle under a gross weight of 7,500 kg.


Query - Does this mean that if I have a non-transport LMV license (car license), I can drive a transport vehicle without any additional license requirements?

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by srj1266

The Supreme Court’s five-judge Constitution bench on Wednesdayhttps://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-rules-lmv-licence-holders-can-drive-transport-vehicles-101730871232643.html[/url] ruled that a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle (LMV) is entitled to drive a transport vehicle under a gross weight of 7,500 kg.


Query - Does this mean that if I have a non-transport LMV license (car license), I can drive a transport vehicle without any additional license requirements?

Yes. It has been like that for more than five years. As long as the vehicle has a gross weight under 7500kg like Tempo Traveller or Supercarry for example. Basically vans and pickups that earlier used to need commercial license.

[blackwasp]

This judgment is more towards the insurance companies who would try to deny claims if the driver of a sub -7500 kg transport vehicle with an LMV license. In case of lower compensation amounts, the party is likely to not pursue legal battle, leading to insurance companies on saving claim amount by not paying out for legitimate claims.

[locusjag]

This amendment to the rules was originally brought about by the MoRTH, Mr.Gadkari, during his second term. The intention was to ensure that transport drivers who struggle to make ends meet do not need to frequent corruption-ridden RTOs and renew their commercial drivers licenses for driving sub-7.5 tonne vehicles upon paying hefty bribes. It was a great move. I was lauding the minister for innovatively placing a checkmate against corrupt RTO babus from milking poor professional transport drivers. Regular LMV licenses do not require frequent renewals, for context.

For some reason, insurers were interpreting the MVA differently and had tried challenging those amendments in court.

OT: I used to have a great opinion of Mr.Gadkari for exactly such reasons...until he started bringing in ethanol into petrol and diesel.

[sagarpadaki]

The amendment allows for driving transport vehicles. Not goods vehicle. So, I believe one can drive a Temp Traveller with LMV but not a Tata Ace. Is my understanding correct?

[arjab]

Following the USA norms. In US a person holding a passenger car driving licence can drive commercial vehicles, popularly known as "box trucks" restricted upto 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. This is the upper end of Class-2 trucks in US. Anything above that you need a CDL, (Commercial Drivers Licence).

The problem with India is that, as it is our licensing process is lax. I know that in some remote places one does not even need to "take a driving test" to get a LMV licence and the whole "licensing" procedure is "managed" by intrepid souls closely linked to the respective RTO's. Thus for India, if this becomes legal, then it may raise a question on the safety aspect of other road users.

The dynamic behaviour of commercial vehicles are very different from passenger cars and SUV's, both in laden and unladen condition. It requires a different skill set to operate such vehicles and it would be wrong to say that anyone with an LMV driving licence can do justice to a commercial vehicle.
I fervently hope that people thinking of utilising this legal endorsement, does so responsibly and with utmost caution, keeping the safety aspect in mind.

[The Mechanic]

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

The amendment allows for driving transport vehicles. Not goods vehicle. So, I believe one can drive a Temp Traveller with LMV but not a Tata Ace. Is my understanding correct?

I think it is applicable for both passenger and goods vehicles.

I am attaching the MORTH Advisory regarding this.

[TorquePull]

I got my Transport license for LMV 2 years back. The process basically involved the RTO verifying the ID matches the person, then I went to take photo and some other small verifications like address. I had to appear in Khakhi driver’s uniform.

Basically, anyone with a car license can get this after paying the necessary amount and appearing in person. I don’t see the point, other than them generating extra revenue and the validity is also only 5 years.

[mally2]

So can someone clarify that whether I can drive a yellow board Innova or tempo traveller as a self drive car with my LMV license.

Thank you in advance

[V.Narayan]

Sadly we have zero training on driving skills, safety norms and rules of the road. I do not know the pressing social or fiscal reasons behind this ruling but a driver used to driving a Maruti Swift taxi does not automatically take to a Tata 407 vehicle I have driven at some length in my younger days. Factors that matter are - the length of the vehicle, the blind spots, the turning circle, the fact that the driver sits at a height and most of all the higher centre of gravity due to the cargo being carried all make a difference. And the way most light cargo vehicle drivers learn with help of a friend none of this gets addressed.

All this may matter less in a 3 tonne vehicle but not so in a 7.5 tonne one. Ideally a driver seeking a license for a 7.5 tonne vehicle should undergo training and testing. In the Indian context with our MoRT I'm smoking.

[saket77]

In a country where LMV license holders cannot drive even an LMV properly, this ruling will only make it worse. Currently we see smaller vehicles in the opposite lanes, soon we will find public transport vehicles in those lanes driven by 18 year olds. The licensing process should be made tougher and more importantly corruption free.

I recently got my DL made afresh all by myself- the entire process was corruption free. But the driving testing process should focus more on traffic rule compliance & familiarity with the vehicle.