[TusharK]

Maruti Suzuki is partnering with the government of Delhi to setup automated driving test centres. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed soon, formally kicking off the project.



As part of the initiative, Maruti Suzuki will setup driving test centres complete with automated testing systems at 10 locations in Delhi. The centres will have scientifically laid out driving test tracks and will use high definition cameras and video analysis to assess the driving behavior of applicants. According to Maruti Suzuki, this will make the process of issuing a driving license more transparent and efficient, while properly testing the driving skills of the candidates.

The new automated driving test centres will be built over the next 12 months. Maruti Suzuki will operate and maintain the facilities for the next 3 years. The company is investing Rs. 10 crore into this project.

These automated driving test centres will be set up in phases. In the first phase test centres will be opened at DTC terminals at Hauz Khas, Shakur Basti, Raja Garden, Pratap Nagar and Hari Nagar; DTI, Burari; IDTR Loni Road and IDTR Sarai Kale Khan and at Transport Department offices in Rohini, Jharoda Kalan and Dwarka.

Link to Team-BHP News

[Nonstop-driver]

Would be great if they can add a theoretical session on subtle driving ethics like lane changing, no honking, abrupt braking on highways and taking the round-about when turning right and obvious things like not driving against the traffic on the wrong lane

I see brilliant drivers on the road who can manoeuvre these obstacles but just be a total jerk on the road

[aghate]

Originally Posted by Nonstop-driver

Would be great if they can add a theoretical session on subtle driving ethics like lane changing, no honking, abrupt braking on highways and taking the round-about when turning right and obvious things like not driving against the traffic on the wrong lane

I see brilliant drivers on the road who can manoeuvre these obstacles but just be a total jerk on the road

Actually, Maruti provides those details in their Driving School. They have very good illustrations followed with videos in their theory sessions. Learnt driving there so have an idea about it.

Not sure how much of this topic can be covered in a Driving Test.

[TusharK]

Delhi gets its 1st Fully Automated Driving Test Centre

In November 2017, Maruti had announced that it would setup Fully Automated Driving Test Centres (ADTCs) in India. The first such test centre has been inaugurated at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Mayur Vihar Phase I. Three more test centres have started operating in Vishwas Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan and Shakur Basti.



Maruti Suzuki has partnered with the Delhi Government to setup ADTCs in the city. The company has invested Rs. 20 crore in the project which aims to make issuance of driving license, comprehensive, convenient and more efficient with minimal human intervention.

The test facilities use access control equipped with biometric, RFID recognition systems to allow entry of applicants only at pre-assigned time slots. The facilities have scientifically designed test tracks and use high definition cameras to evaluate applicants for 20 driving skills. There are tracks for testing reverse parallel parking, up-gradient, Forward-8, Reverse-S, Traffic Junction, H-Track for four-wheelers and to test the overtaking skills of the applicants. The test tracks have an exit passage so that applicants who fail mid-way can exit the track.

Two-wheeler applicants are evaluated for their maneuvering skills on a serpentine track. Applicants will also be tested for emergency braking skills and skills to ride on a straight ramp.

The ADTCs will be operated by the Department of Transport, Delhi and Maruti Suzuki will maintain it for the next 3 years. Similar ADTCs will be set up at Lado Sarai, Raja Garden, Hari Nagar, Burari, Loni, Rohini, Jharoda Kalan and Dwarka.

Link to Team-BHP News

[JS Kwt]

60% Applicants FAIL TEST
New Test Track bruised and battered on Day One
Many NOT attempting or turning up for stringent Test

NEW DELHI: A broken boom barrier, a damaged road divider and a badly grazed ramp wall — these are the results of the first day of driving tests at the fully Automated Driving Test Centre (ADTC) in Mayur Vihar on Thursday.

Most driving-licence applicants are finding the test tracks too difficult to negotiate and have come close to wrecking the state-of-the-art infrastructure at the centre inaugurated on Wednesday. Not surprisingly, 62% of the novice drivers failed the test.

ADTC tests the hopefuls on their abilities on parallel parking and on manoeuvring their car through an upward gradient, forward 8, reverse S, traffic junction and in overtaking others. “All applicants are first given a demo and their doubts about the track cleared, but they still fail the test.

In fact, many are either not turning up or leaving without taking the test after seeing the scientific way in which the assessment is carried out,” said a transport department official.

“This is tougher than I thought,” said Manoj Kumar after failing the test. “I don’t think even people holding a driving licence will be able to clear the test at one go.” A successful applicant, however, claimed the track wasn’t difficult, but required the examinee to get the timing right. Those who fail can have another try after seven days.

While the Mayur Vihar centre opened only on Thursday, the automated test track at Sarai Kale Khan, started last year, also has 60% candidates failing.

No Wonder the Chaos on our Roads




Full Article

[BigBrad]

A similar thing was initiated in Kerala, but the driving school lobby played against it and made sure nobody turned up for the test. It was stopped after a few days of no show and the authorities went back to the old process.

Hope this one at least doesn't go that way and the authorities stick to this. The higher percentage of people failing the test is a clear indication of the lack of basic driving skills.

[DKMahant]

Yesterday, we went to the Shakurbasti Driving Test Centre, near Pitampura, Delhi for our morning booking slot at 11:30 and reached 10 minutes before that. There are few points which I wish to bring to your attention:

1. There was no proper entrance assistance / queue and all the cars were trying to get inside the campus overtaking each other without any procedure whatsoever.

2. After entering the waiting area, the TV screen was running a video on loop of the automated test. The staff was trying to assist the applicants who were going for the tests. One person also gave the demo to everyone while showing the clip on the screen.

3. When my wife started the test, she completed all the 5 stages including the parallel parking and thereafter, waited behind the Yellow Line, which is evident from the dashcam footage of the car.





4. While she was waiting behind the yellow line for the signal to turn green, I asked one staffer to see if there was a problem since the car was there since long and the signal had not changed. He saw from the window and replied, "Every signal is functioning properly." and went about his work.

5. After 2 minutes, she was signalled to exit the track as the software did not capture that she had completed the parallel parking properly and was waiting to proceed for the last stage of the gradient test.

6. Upon complaining to the staff that entire test was done till parallel parking and she was waiting before the yellow line, the staff casually remarked that the demo had sufficient information and they cannot be blamed for the software not capturing our vehicle.

7. The entire staff of around 5-7 young persons expressed no inclination that they were supposed to guide each person at every stage. Knowing fully well that she was awaiting before the yellow line, the staff was not interested in resolving the issue and handed over the papers with a failure report.

8. Since the clip showed that the Applicant was waiting before the yellow line and not struggling to park / drive, the lack of information to the Applicant should have been given an assistance instead of hiding before the automated system’s fault.

9. The staffers had no answer to our queries about the assistance to be provided at rare instance instead of just remaining quiet. The entire staff can be replaced with robots if this is going to be the attitude.

10. In one instance, the same staffer I spoke with, intimidated a young boy who was making a video clip. The boy was then taken inside a room. If the use of mobile phone is not allowed in the waiting area, there should have been signages instead of trying to behave how the staffer did.

11. The behaviour of the staff by trying not to address the issue and instead of blaming the system leaves the citizens at no help. Upon asking the staff to provide assistance, we both were told, “Online complaint kar do aap.”

12. The staff should be for the assistance of citizens instead of hiding their responsibilities behind software glitches. The entire track is so poorly managed, the overtaking track had no poles as given in the demo, the gradient section was full of bushes which looked never trimmed since months.

13. The track needs more signages at many places. What was most shocking was that no staff member was on the track and all left the applicants on the mercy of software.

MARUTI MAY HAVE GIVEN THE CENTRES, IT IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TRAIN THE STAFF PROPERLY INSTEAD OF LEAVING THE CITIZENS HELPLESS.

Link to download the parallel parking clip

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wyVY9CCNdz3zh78m8

Screenshots are also attached showing that the car was parked and waiting for signal to turn green.