New Driving Licence Rules: No need to take a driving test at RTO

New Delhi: The government has changed regulations for getting a driving licence.

Individuals dont need to take a driving test at a government Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Instead, private institutions are now authorised to conduct tests and issue certificates saying the people they trained can be given driving licences.

The regulations will come into effect from June 1, 2024.

New rules for private driving training centres:

Minimum land requirement: The facility must have a minimum of 1 acre of land. At driving centres for 4-wheeler motors, an additional 2 acres of land is required.

Access to testing facility: A driving training centre must have access to a suitable testing facility.

Qualifications for trainers: Trainers must possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent education.

Additionally, they must have a minimum of 5 years of driving experience. Trainers should be familiar with the fundamentals of biometrics and information technology systems.

Duration of training: Light vehicle training must be completed in less than 4 weeks, with a minimum of 29 hours of training. This training should be divided into at least two sections: theoretical and practical. The theoretical component should encompass 8 hours, while the practical component should span 21 hours.

Heavy motor vehicle training: For heavy motor vehicles, there will be 38 hours of training comprising 8 hours of theoretical education and 31 hours of practical preparation. 
This training should be completed within 6 weeks.

These regulations aim to ensure that private driving training centres maintain a high standard of education and preparation for aspiring drivers, both for light and heavy vehicles.