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Ahmedabad New trainers will have to undergo a test. Upon satisfactory performance, they will receive a certificate, failing which they will not be allowed to impart driving lessons to others

How trained are the drivers of the training institutes? This is one question bothering the Traffic Department in Ahmedabad which now feels that training institutes need to test the skills of their trainers before they impart driving lessons to the people.

Atul Karwal, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said that all training schools approved by the Regional Transport Office in Ahmedabad need training. He said: “I feel the training institutes too need to be trained. Especially, the instructors need to be checked on how much knowledge they have about driving, and safety aspects on the road, and how efficiently they teach learners? Also are they themselves trained? The instructors in training institutes are teaching for years, but they may not be up to the mark or to the standards expected on today’s roads and traffic system.”

According to the decision taken by the Traffic Department, the institutes will have to check the skills of the new trainers? Karwal said: “A test will be taken before any person is recruited as a trainer in these institutes. After this, the trainers will be trained in all aspects of driving and road skills. If the candidate shows satisfactory results, he will be given a certificate. No trainer will be allowed to teach without the certificate. The institutes will also be given a fixed syllabus on the basis of which they will impart training to the people.”

At present, Ahmedabad has only two training institutes: Road Safety Academy Children’s Park (run by the Traffic Department) and another centre at Western India Auto Association (WIAA).

WIAA has also conducted training sessions for the police drivers of Ahmedabad.

The Traffic Department aims to hone the driving skills of the citizens with the introduction of this system. Karwal said: “There are hardly two institutes to train the people. We want these institutes to be more disciplined and accurate in their jobs. A professional training of the trainers is a must. We want the people to get professional guidance from experts in the field.”

Khurshid Mansoori, Co-ordinator of the Road Safety Academy approved of the idea.

She said: “This will be a perfect parameter for the trainers because it is true that sometimes trainers are themselves reckless. Many a times, young boys approach us to work as trainers while they themselves do not know much about traffic signage and road discipline. A compulsory certificate will make the trainer more responsible. This will ensure that the trainer first follows all rules and regulation and then imparts knowledge to others.”