Mumbai: Tardeo RTO now has the city's first driving simulator

Tardeo RTO in Mumbai received its first driving simulator on Friday. Unlike the typical 200-meter test ride to assess an applicant, this is an important addition to ensure road safety. Applicants will be required to take a test on busy roads, potholed roads, traffic lights, and so on. This will not only determine the applicant's driving abilities but will also make the process of obtaining a driver's licence more difficult.

 

Avinash Dhakne, the State Transport Commissioner, launched this driving simulator, on which applicants will have to take a test before the final road test to obtain a driving licence. "We have given two 4-wheeler simulators so that the licenced applicants can use them," said Transport Commissioner Avinash Dhakane. We have started a great initiative in collaboration with United Way Mumbai by making helmets mandatory for pillion riders in the state of Maharashtra.

 

This training will undoubtedly aid in informing the general public about the rules and regulations, as well as the importance of adhering to them." This training facility is outfitted with a bike simulator that accurately assesses driving abilities, traffic rule knowledge, and pedestrian safety.

 

The simulator functions similarly to a console, with different riding conditions available to applicants. For example, there will be bumpy and potholed roads, traffic signals, pedestrians and jaywalkers, traffic jams, different weather conditions, and so on, all of which will be part of the test that the driving licence applicant must pass.

 

There is a two-wheeler model on which the applicant must sit while taking the test. This model will be replicated in all of the city's RTOs. "The road crash data analysis done in 2021 stated that 350 people lost their lives in road crashes in Mumbai, out of which 166 were two-wheelers," said Bharat Kalaskar, Regional Transport Officer Tardeo. This means that nearly half of the people are riding two-wheelers or walking. We must focus on two-wheelers, particularly the safety of pillion riders."

 

According to sources, this is an attempt to make roads and road travel safer for riders and passengers, as well as to raise awareness about rules and regulations. United Way Mumbai, which is putting these simulators in place, claims that as part of the initiative, they will provide professional training to at least 5,600 people who will work at the RTO office five days a week. The programme will ensure that candidates for a two-wheeler driving licence have received adequate training and have passed the simulator test before receiving their licence.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @Cardrivingsim