Increase in Failures at Automated Driving Test Tracks in Delhi

After complete automation of all the 13 driving test centers in Delhi, there has been a significant decline in the proportion of persons successfully passing the driving test. However, this trend seems to be slowly reversing, as data and officials are indicating an increase in the pass rate.

The last facility to adopt the Advanced Driving Test Track (ADTT) was the Lado Sarai Test Track in March. Thereafter, the proportion of persons passing the test at this center dropped to 46% (1,768 out of 3,842), while the success rate recorded in the last three months was 87% (4,036 out of 4,640) when the test was conducted manually.

This decline in the pass rate is being seen continuously at many examination centres. The Delhi government started automating the driving test track in the financial year 2018-19 with the initial four centers at Mayur Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, Shakur Basti and Vishwas Nagar. As per the data compiled in March of the current year, the pass percentage at these places declined from 85% (10,423 out of 12,445) in 2017-18 to 34% (6,090 out of 17,515) in 2018-19.

According to officials, on an average 150 to 170 tests are conducted daily at ADTTs, while the number ranges from 180 to 210 at day-night centres. Notably, after an initial decline after the introduction of automation, the pass rates at these four centers have gradually improved to 43% in 2019-20, 51% in 2020-21, 56% in 2021-22 and around 64% in 2022 reached -23.

This improvement is attributed to enhanced applicant training prior to participation in the test. Automated test tracks play an important role in our road safety efforts, as the elimination of human discretion ensures that only skilled drivers are licensed. Delhi transport commissioner and secretary Ashish Kundra commented, The lower qualification rate through the automated track as compared to the manual version is beneficial, as it encourages applicants to undergo intensive training before starting driving. There has been an increase in the total number of persons tested in delhi. Driving licenses will increase from 1.61 lakh in 2018 to 2.08 lakh in 2022.

Unlike the manual approach, automated centers use video analytics to assess license seekers within a 10-minute cycle, eliminating human intervention. Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) monitor the progress of the test on a computer screen while sensors track the movement of the vehicle. Any error made by the driver is immediately flagged.

The comprehensive test sequence includes a reverse S test, an 8-formation test, overtaking, stopping at a zebra crossing and waiting for a red light to turn green, parallel parking and a gradient track test involving driving uphill to do is included. And pause is included. Go down the slope until the red light changes.

Failure in any part of the test will lead to immediate disqualification. For years, the process of obtaining a driver license suffered from insufficient scrutiny, as evidenced by independent studies and former transportation officials.

A 2017 survey by SAVELife Foundation, a road safety advocacy group, found that 54% of individuals who obtained a driving license in Delhi had never actually driven a vehicle. Sarika Panda Bhatt, Co-Founder of Raahgiri Foundation, emphasized on the importance of driving center automation in reducing road accidents. Bhatt, however, highlighted the importance of driver education apart from the need for enforcement measures.