10,000 auto drivers do not have licence

10,000 auto drivers do not have licence

The Hindu

Police have launched a special drive to check driving without licence and display cards

# Though more than 80,000 autorickshaws have permit to ply in the city, only 66,000 have obtained display cards
# Traffic police have made display of cards containing personal information of drivers mandatory
# Autorickshaw drivers seek special drive to issue driving licences

BANGALORE: More than 10,000 autorickshaws in the city are being driven by people who do not have a valid driving licence. As a result, passengers face a safety threat and they would not be eligible for insurance cover in case of accidents.

This came to the notice of the police after the April 24 deadline prescribed by them for obtaining display cards by autorickshaw drivers ended. Though more than 80,000 autorickshaws have permit to ply in the city, only 66,000 drivers have obtained the cards.

The cards were issued free to drivers on production of original driving licence and other documents and information along with their photographs. The traffic police have made display of these cards containing personal information of drivers mandatory for the safety of passengers.

The police have launched a special drive to check driving without licence and display cards. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi told The Hindu that apart from slapping fine on errant drivers, cases were being referred to jurisdictional courts.

To prevent repetition of the offence, courts have the discretion to imprison the offenders under the Motor Vehicles Act, Mr. Reddi said. Also, the Transport Department can suspend the permit on the recommendation of the traffic police where the owners of the autorickshaws have allowed persons without valid licence to drive them.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) M.A. Saleem, who is the nodal officer to issue display cards, said the police were issuing cards even after the expiry of the deadline. Many drivers without a driving licence have obtained licenses and are collecting the cards following stringent action by his department, he said.

Meanwhile, several unions of autorickshaw drivers have urged the Regional Transport Offices to conduct a special drive to issue driving licences to over 15,000 people. RTOs are directing these people to come through driving schools who charge over Rs. 1,000 to offer training and to obtain licences. The unions said the drivers could not afford the hefty fee.

However, the Transport Department has said it was mandatory under the MV Act for a driving licence aspirant for any transport vehicle, including passenger vehicles, to come through a driving school.

Safety

Transport Commissioner Om Prakash said that the provision was for the safety of passengers, as the drivers are required to possess adequate driving skills. "Had I had any discretion, I would have examined their plea," he added.

Regional Transport Officer (Central) C. Mallikarjuna said that though the Government has prescribed a fee of Rs. 2,700 for training, the schools have prescribed less amounts due to stiff competition. However, the officials on humanitarian grounds can consider referring driving licence aspirants to a school asking the schools to charge lesser fees if they come in a group, he added