From regulating the chaotic roads in India to assisting traffic police men, technology has always been in the forefront. Read on to know more…
On the busy chaotic roads, regulating and enforcing discipline among the vehicle drivers for the motor vehicle department and traffic police is a real challenging task. However, regulating the chaotic roads in India to assisting traffic police men, technology has always been in the forefront.
Real Time Applications
There are several dimensions for safety and discipline on roads. These include drivers training, licensing, and vehicle fitness. Most importantly, MVA is enshrining the concept that innovation precedes regulation.
The starting point of deploying tech for safety is the training of drivers and issuance of licences. An estimated 30 per cent of driving licences in India are considered fake. To prevent this, all licences will be issued after mandatory online identity verification using biometrics and Aadhaar.
A driver will be assessed by sensors and cameras on the testing track as the car is driven through it. At the end of the test an automated certificate will declare whether the driver has passed the test or not. If not, then remedial testing will be done. If yes, then licence will be issued. A driving licence will be issued without human intervention or discretion, removing endemic corruption in transport offices.
Enabling Tech for Driving License in India
While some states like Delhi have started the process it is crucial that this process of using technology for issuance of driving license be made mandatory across India. Moreover, the MVA has created provisions for smart driving training centres across the country. Currently most driving schools in India work without any regulation or oversight.
Regulation and standardisation of driver training will bring some sense in this chaotic sector. Drivers caught violating rules will be forced to go for remedial training at such centres.
Other Applications
Next is the issue of vehicles and their road worthiness. At most transport offices, fitness certificates to commercial vehicles are given by a cursory glance at the vehicle. This obviously has led to our highways being choked by dangerous unfit commercial vehicles. Under the new rules, periodic vehicle fitness will be done at automated testing centres.
These centres will have calibration equipment that will scan and simulate functions of the vehicle. Certificate of fitness of vehicles will be granted after it is assessed on an automated testing station without human intervention. Such stations will be created under a public-private partnership framework.
To improve road safety vehicles, the MVA mandates electronic monitoring of vehicles. This means that manufacturers can include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in all vehicles. ADAS helps drivers by giving advance warnings of road conditions, pedestrians, speed, etc using electronic sensors and cameras.
Apart from ADAS, cameras fixed on dashboards and IoT blackbox will offer crucial evidence in accidents. Drivers will have proof of their innocence while vehicle makers will be able to understand better why certain systems in the car didn’t work. All the information flowing through will be useful data for road safety analysis and policy-making.
The new Act has opened the doors for cutting edge technology to be deployed on all fronts to ensure safer trips, reduced fatalities and minimum disputes. The real change in the MVA is the use of technologies like AI, IoT, data analytics and face recognition to bring accountability, efficiency and transparency.
The Road Ahead
Too much attention has been given to traffic violation fines but not on tech-based measures. The real reform and revolution on the roads will be brought about by preventive measures using new technology.
The real change in the MVA is the use of technologies like AI, IoT, data analytics and face recognition to bring accountability, efficiency and transparency. Today, the reality is that breaking traffic rules has gotten just that tougher with the induction of technology
