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Art of SAFE driving
An instructor teaching the nuances of steering control. -- Photo: K.R. Deepak.
One year ago, Suchitra approached a driving school in her neighbourhood to learn car driving but seeing the fee structure the housewife backed out. She persuaded her husband to buy a Maruti 800 by utilising the available loan facilities with a view to learning the art - her childhood passion.
Suchitra took the help of a friend to learn driving in her new car. According to her, the first two or three days were okay but on the fourth day she rammed a road divider on Beach Road. The damage was to the tune of Rs.24,000 as the gearbox was also damaged due to wrong handling of the gears during her learning sessions.
"The incident made me realise that by paying Rs.2,000 and learning from a driving school was much better than using my brand new car. I immediately joined the same driving school and today I am an accomplished driver, but the bad memory keeps haunting me," she says.
According to the Deputy Transport Commissioner, B. Venkateswarlu, driving schools are a must for cities like Visakhapatnam. "The growth of vehicular traffic is very healthy in these cities. If one learns driving from a recognised school then he or she could be called a safe driver, as apart from driving skills they would be taught about traffic signals and rules. Good drivers reduce accidents on roads," he says.
What do they teach?
As per rules, all recognised driving schools are supposed to impart a 30-day course, comprising a minimum 20 hours of practical driving and a couple of theory classes where one would be taught the basic maintenance of a four-wheeler and traffic rules and signals.
"We start off straightaway with the practical classes. Day-one we familiarise learners with basic driving tools like steering wheel and different pedals like clutch, brake and accelerator. Initially we make them drive for about 30 to 60 minutes daily on free roads like Beach Road and then slowly move them to main thoroughfares once we are confident of their skills. The final few hours are dedicated to theory classes where we teach them the basic maintenance of a car like how to replace a burst tyre and check the oil levels and also about traffic signals and symbols," says A. Shankar of Sai Teja Driving School.
On the fee, he says, "There are two types of fee structure - one only for learning to drive for which the charges could be around Rs.1,500 and the second is with the combination of obtaining a driving licence in which case, the fee would be Rs.2,400. Before we start the course we obtain a learner's licence from the Regional Transport Authority for each trainee, and after completion we issue a certificate. For women, we arrange to pick them up and drop them back after the class."
Basic needs
What are the basic needs for learning to drive?
"First, one should see whether the school is recognised by the RTA. Because recognised schools follow certain norms and have infrastructure: primarily all their cars are fitted with dual control system; they employ a diploma holder in automobile engineering for taking theory classes on vehicle maintenance; and they maintain a laboratory wherein various car parts are displayed and have a classroom with a blackboard and traffic signal charts," says Mr. Venkateswarlu.
Problems
The city has over 40 recognised schools and a number of unrecognised schools. But going through unrecognised schools could lead to problems even though they might charge less, says the Press Relations Officer of Andhra University, C. Ramakrishna. "Recognised schools take up all the responsibilities during the training days including minor accidents. Moreover, I tried to go through an unrecognised school once and was fleeced. There is no accountability, as the car is their address and office, whereas the recognised ones must and should have an office with basic facilities. Moreover, cars in the recognised schools are maintained well, as there will be frequent checks by the RTA," he says.
Though they have the support of the Government and the people, the recognised driving schools have their own problems. According to the president of the Recognized Driving Schools Union, Zilani, the RTA should be judicious in issuing recognition as there is a cluttering of schools in certain areas. We appreciate the idea of helping unemployed youth but they should maintain the rule of one school every 2 km. The other problems plaguing us are: some schools do not stick to their designated area; and if recognition is given for opening a school in Arilova, people are found opening schools in MVP Colony with that licence. The RTA should also give learners from our schools certain relaxation during the test for issuing permanent licences, otherwise there is a thin gap between us and the unrecognised ones. Apart from regular checks on driving schools and their vehicles, the RTA should monitor the fee charged, as some schools are undercutting and creating unhealthy competition in the market."
Whatever be the fee charged or time spent, it is high time that people learnt their driving from recognised schools to become good drivers.
SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE
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