Around 80% of applicants are reportedly failing car driving tests at Ahmedabad’s Subhash Bridge Regional Transport Office (RTO), where an advanced testing system equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) cameras monitors driving skills and compliance with traffic rules.
The modern RTO facility, built at a cost of several crores of rupees, has 16 AI cameras and five additional surveillance cameras installed to monitor two-wheeler and four-wheeler driving tests. Applicants must watch a mandatory instructional video before taking the test and complete a series of driving manoeuvres within strict time limits.
Even well-educated applicants are struggling to complete the test within the prescribed time, with mistakes during manoeuvres and confusion over traffic signals contributing to failures.
Completing the Test Within Seven Minutes Proves Difficult
Obtaining a driving licence has become more challenging at the Subhash Bridge RTO following the introduction of the AI-enabled testing system. The facility has a dedicated track for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, with cameras monitoring applicants’ performance throughout the test.
Two-wheeler applicants must complete a figure-eight manoeuvre within 60 seconds without touching the ground with their feet or allowing the vehicle to lose balance.
For car and other four-wheeler applicants, the process begins with an appointment, registration and token allocation, followed by a mandatory video explaining the track and testing rules.
Applicants must then complete several driving tasks within specified time limits. These include reverse driving, completing a figure-eight manoeuvre, box parking and driving uphill on a slope. The test also requires applicants to follow traffic signals placed along the track.
Red and green signals at different points add another challenge. Applicants who fail to follow the signals or make mistakes while performing the manoeuvres can fail the test. Many also struggle to complete the entire process within the allotted time, making the AI-monitored driving test particularly demanding.
Two-Month Wait for Car Driving Test Appointments
The high number of failures has contributed to a waiting period of around two months for car driving test appointments at the Subhash Bridge RTO.
To reduce the backlog, the RTO initially allowed approximately 130 applicants to take driving tests throughout the day. The number of daily test slots has now been increased to 160, with testing scheduled from 7 am until dusk.
However, the testing hours remain limited because the AI cameras have difficulty capturing clear footage after dark.
The increased number of slots is expected to help accommodate more applicants, although the extended waiting period remains a concern for those seeking to obtain their driving licences.