RTOs intend to instruct drivers licence applicants on traffic laws and road safety.

A proposal to teach road safety to DL candidates was recently forwarded to the government by the State Transport Authority (STA). The STA's plan has been accepted by the government, and it has been instructed to issue a tender to choose an organisation to deliver the courses.

Before receiving their DLs, applicants for Driving Licences (DLs) will soon be required to participate in a brief training course on traffic laws, penalties, and road safety. For this objective, training facilities will be established at the 35 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state.

"In addition to having good driving abilities, drivers need to be informed of the traffic laws, the penalties for breaking them, road signs, and other aspects of road safety. We want to sensitise the DL candidates about the relevance of comprehending the factors of road safety because the amount of accidents is a reason for worry," According to a senior transportation official. A proposal to teach road safety to DL candidates was recently forwarded to the government by the State Transport Authority (STA). The STA's plan has been accepted by the government, and it has been instructed to issue a tender to choose an organisation to deliver the courses.

We intend to establish training facilities in each of the state's 35 RTOs. Before receiving their DLs, holders of Learner's Licences (LLs) will be required to take classes in road safety and first aid, the official added.

According to the current system, each DL candidate must first show up at the RTO for a computerised exam. A LL is granted to the candidate whenever they pass the test. Only if the candidate passes a driving proficiency test within six months of receiving the LL is the final DL issued.

Untrained and unprepared drivers of vehicles pose a severe threat to the safety of the road. We have often emphasised that DL candidates should improve their driving abilities in order to reduce accidents, the official stated. According to information provided by the ministry of roads and road transportation, at least 1,102 of the 9,817 accidents that occurred in Odisha in 2020 were the fault of drivers who lacked a driver's licence, while 713 were the fault of LL holders.

At the moment, traffic violations include speeding, running red lights, overloading goods vehicles with people or cargo, using a cellphone while driving, failing to buckle up, and driving while intoxicated can result in DL suspension for a minimum of three months.