[HIGHWAY_PATROL]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

Theoretical exam is already part of the process. Learners license is given only after completing the theory exam

I had thought the theoretical exam conducted in our RTOs were a sham.

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to hear from my colleague that in Kerala these exams are conducted without any malpractice whereas just across the state border, in Coimbatore he had seen driving institute 'facilitators' giving answers to the applicants for getting their LL.

I have long admired Kerala for being one of the least corrupt states in the country. It is clearly setting a good example for the rest of the nation on making our roads safe for all users.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by d.w.w.

When I took the test in mid 2000s the instructors asked to stop before taking the turns, rotate the steering wheel, make the turn, stop and re-align steering and then proceed.

The real problem. Still stuck in pre-1950s driving behaviour. Slow and steady, with vehicle control concentrated on bringing the car to a standstill, and not defensive driving. No wonder, most drivers are clueless on how to handle vehcles at highway speeds.

Originally Posted by d.w.w.

It is too easy to do '8' on an M80. I did it with out any practice at all, all you need is very good cycle balance.

Yes. Most won't even have proper balance to ride on the road. Leading to the duck waddling by ladies at slow speeds and zig-zagging by gents when taking off.

[dhanushs]

Finally, we have something moving towards a real solution for road safety. No amount of overspeeding challans or seat belt challans will make the roads safer.

It has to start with Basic Road Safety & Driving Awareness! No better check point than licensing to ensure this. I'm glad that Kerala has set this benchmark.

[arjunsatheesh]

Stopping and starting on a gradient is of utmost importance at many places in Kerala and this would ensure no one would struggle.
Next, they should bring about different levels of two-wheeler licenses. Too many skill-deficient Valentino Rossi's in Kerala's streets now!

[ike]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Pretty sure someone attempting this in a Jazz or an MG Comet will be at a huge advantage compared to someone in a Jimny or Safari. Anyone attempting this in any automatic or EV will be at a huge advantage compared to a pure manual. Any car with hill hold will have it easy.

You are not allowed to take tests in AT cars or EVs in Kerala anymore. This is one of the regulations that comes into effect along with the new test procedure. Maybe they should have a license allowing people to drive only ATs and allow tests in AT cars. Not sure about whether auto hold has been catered for.

[RMN]

Fantastic news!

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Driving tests have to take all this into account. Technology is changing very quickly. You can’t be designing driving tests for only Altos and Boleros of yore.

If we are going to still have only 1 category of license for MT,AT & EV's, then I'd say that the applicants should still do the tests on a bare bones MT vehicle.

Else we need to introduce different categories of license like some other nations do. I believe this will eventually happen with demand of MT going down.

[r0phi]

I have been through the Kerala MVD licensing process in 2018. This was in Mavelikara, Alapuzha. It is not trivial to clear.

The MCQ test is conducted very professionally and the standard for passing is high. Saw a few people fail it as well.

The 2 wheeler test was on a dirt track in a field. Saw quite a few people get disqualified for using their feet for balance.

4 wheeler test was similarly very strict. After a figure of H, there was a road test where they asked me to show hand signals as well as light ones. Must have driven around 0.5km with the inspector.

The entire process was video-graphed.

Lastly, there was a 2 hour safety session the next day for safety instructions. Mostly covered defensive driving strategies. They also showed very nasty accident videos and photos.

At no point was there any shady business.

[vinaygeorgeroy]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Pretty sure someone attempting this in a Jazz or an MG Comet will be at a huge advantage compared to someone in a Jimny or Safari. Anyone attempting this in any automatic or EV will be at a huge advantage compared to a pure manual. Any car with hill hold will have it easy.

Driving tests have to take all this into account. Technology is changing very quickly. You can’t be designing driving tests for only Altos and Boleros of yore.

I believe if you take the driving test in an automatic, your license will be there for automatic only. Isn't there a distinction like : MotorCycle with gear and without gear, and LMV with gear and without?

The advantage with respect to the size of the car already exists. Even for taking the H (the current standard), someone in an 800 has an advantage ove someone taking it in an innova.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

With pure focus on improving the quality of driving, Kerala is all set to roll out the new driving license exam system from May 1st.

And there goes any hope of producing better drivers on our roads. This is the exact same format that automated driver licence testing is all about. Started with Delhi, and the disease is spreading to every state. Without any test of how the aspirant for a new driving licence can cope with real-world traffic flow or interaction with other road users, this test that a 5-year-old on a tricycle can complete with some practice will produce more and more dangerous drivers over a period of time. Why do I say that? Read here (Why automated driving licence testing in India produces dangerous drivers).

[sagarpadaki]

A move in the good direction.

They should also include a real world road test with emphasis on how the candidates perceive right of way at junctions, how they merge to main road from service road and vice versa, how they handle round abouts after this simulated condition test.

Prior to all this, there must be a tough MCQ to crack.

One should earn their license via hard work and proper learning. Only then the collective driving sense on our roads will improve and accidents will go down.

[vishal.jayakuma]

This reminds me of the Malayalam movie "Driving License"
I hope more stringent restrictions are placed on KSRTC bus drivers as well before issuing licenses, and existing bus drivers requiring a re-test every few years. Is there a system like this already in place? I am unaware, hence the question.

[ps_abhijith]

Considering the high number of teen deaths related to motorcycle accidents in Kerala (I too have lost more than one near and dear one), its high time they introduce age and skill based limited licenses for two wheeler like in EU countries. In India, once you pas the test at 18, you can straight hop on to a 1000cc bike, with zero experience and maturity and get yourself killed. Duke has a really bad reputation in Kerala for this matter, 18-19 year olds riding around in Duke 390's on the narrow roads with heavy traffic is a sure recipe for a bad ending. I was a bit surprised to read about the two wheeler licencing here in the UK. You have 3 levels of licenses which are both age and power limited.

Learner : Min age of 16, Need to pass CBT (Its a theory + road course on how to ride), Theory test and can ride two wheeler below 125cc and a max power output of 11kw.

A1 : Motor tricycles with a power output not more than 15 kW. Min age is 17. You need to pass the CBT , theory test and practical test.

A2 : Standard motorcycle up to 35 kW. Min age is 19 years. Need to pass theory and practical or 2 years experience on A1 motorbike and a further practical test.

A : Unrestricted motorcycles in size/power, with or without a sidecar. Min age is 24. Need to either pass CBT, theory and practical or should have held an A2 licence for a minimum of 2 years followed by a practical test.

This system makes sense in a lot of ways and ensure the riders are mature enough for the power.

[Cresterk]

A very good move. I was surprised at how easy it was to get the driving license here in Kerala when I was 18. Car I was super confident about since I driven extensively abroad. But motorcycle license was given to me even though I had never driven a motorcycle before. That M80 they gave me was basically a geared cycle. And hand signals? Really? When was that ever used on our roads in this decade. There is this false sense of confidence you get right after getting your license and being young, that leads to a lot of dumb shit.

They did not teach me or atleast even mention things like counter steering, tandem braking, how using the front brake will cause the bike to straighten up, how to downshift without locking up the rear wheels. Counter steering especially is important when you move on to a real bike and consequently I almost killed myself going off the road on a friend's RC 390 in college. It was a normal curve and I was doing about 80 and I tried to steer it like a cycle by leaning my body
Thankfully, the space around the curve was reasonably plain and there were no trees to ram into so I kept it upright and stopped somehow. Immediately went back home and started looking up 'how to turn properly' on youtube and I realised I knew nothing.

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by ike

Maybe they should have a license allowing people to drive only ATs and allow tests in AT cars.

I am in the camp that firmly believes that even if one wants to own and drive only an automatic car, they must pass their test in a manual as it will perhaps make them more appreciate the influence that shifting between gear ratios has on the weight transfer within a vehicle. The famous incident where a red Polo flew off a flyover in Hyderabad few years back, could definitely have been avoided if the owner was aware of the fact that an automatic car still has to shift between a selection of gear ratios and overrode the gearbox to manually shift it down a couple of gears in order to ensure the traction to make the bend in the road.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

And there goes any hope of producing better drivers on our roads.

with you 100% but there are a few things we can take solace in for example another member raised the point that test takers cannot just stop anywhere in the test and must only do so at the specified points; perhaps this might indirectly enable new drivers to be more aware of how to maintain flow in traffic and not just pause willy nilly here and there. I’m referring to the kind of people who stop while in the process of crossing oncoming traffic flow or who change lanes for an overtake that they then feel too anxious to complete or just anywhere to gather their bearings and navigate further almost like they have a stop sign deployable at any given time in any given spot. This new rule might force them to plan ahead and be more predictable.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

And there goes any hope of producing better drivers on our roads. ...

I dont think the test in Kerala is automated. If not, why do you think an elaborate driving test will produce bad drivers?

Even now I know people who buy driving licenses and not earn them. There are many states which the test is a joke. Compared to that, why do you think Kerala model is hopeless?