Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 6: In a move aimed at improving the quality of driver assessment and promoting safer roads in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Transport Department has revamped the Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving test track at Attampahar, introducing a redesigned layout that is expected to evaluate the practical driving skills of licence applicants more effectively.
The Attampahar facility has long served as the designated testing ground for candidates applying for permanent driving licences for LMVs. While the earlier track focused on basic manoeuvring exercises, the newly redesigned course incorporates a more challenging pattern intended to assess a driver’s control, judgement and confidence behind the wheel.
The revised track places greater emphasis on essential driving manoeuvres such as marching (forward movement), reversing and vehicle handling, which form a critical part of day-to-day driving across the islands. Applicants will now be required to demonstrate better precision and control while negotiating the track, enabling examiners to evaluate their driving abilities under conditions that more closely resemble real-world situations.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over the increasing number of road accidents in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By making the driving test more comprehensive, the Transport Department aims to ensure that only candidates possessing adequate driving skills qualify for permanent driving licences.
The redesigned track also reflects the unique driving conditions of the islands, where motorists frequently encounter narrow roads, sharp bends, gradients and constrained parking spaces. Officials believe that improving the assessment of reversing and manoeuvring skills will better prepare new drivers for the terrain and topography of the region.
The revamp is also in line with the broader objective of ensuring that licence applicants demonstrate competence in practical driving before they are permitted to drive independently. Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, an applicant can appear for the driving competency test only after holding a learner’s licence for a minimum of 30 days. The test is conducted by the licensing authority or an authorised examiner in a vehicle belonging to the category for which the applicant seeks a licence.
The statutory driving test is designed to assess far more than the ability to move a vehicle. Applicants are required to demonstrate safe starting procedures, proper use of gears, smooth acceleration and braking, confident steering, correct lane discipline, signalling, negotiating turns, stopping on inclines, emergency braking, reversing with accuracy, parking manoeuvres and the ability to safely interact with pedestrians and other road users. The assessment also evaluates a driver’s judgement, awareness of traffic conditions and overall control of the vehicle.
The newly redesigned track at Attampahar complements these prescribed testing standards by providing a layout that enables examiners to observe candidates performing key manoeuvres such as reversing, directional changes and controlled vehicle movement with greater accuracy. Instead of merely completing a routine course, applicants are expected to display confidence, precision and adherence to safe driving practices throughout the test.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the road network passes through hilly stretches, densely populated urban areas, narrow village roads and winding coastal routes, such practical skills assume even greater importance. Reversing on narrow roads, negotiating tight turns and maintaining vehicle control on gradients are everyday challenges for motorists across the islands. The redesigned testing track is therefore expected to provide a more realistic assessment of a candidate’s preparedness for these conditions.
Road safety has increasingly emerged as a major concern for the administration, with accidents often being attributed to human error, lack of driving discipline and inadequate vehicle control. Strengthening the licensing process is regarded as one of the most effective long-term measures for reducing such incidents by ensuring that only competent drivers are allowed on public roads.
The Transport Department has also been focusing on improving transparency and efficiency in the licensing process through digital systems and standardised testing procedures. Learner’s licence holders are required to fulfil prescribed conditions before appearing for the competency test, including driving only under the supervision of a valid licence holder and displaying the mandatory ‘L’ sign on the vehicle during the learning period.
Officials believe that a more robust practical evaluation, combined with awareness of traffic rules and responsible driving behaviour, will help produce safer and more confident drivers. The upgraded Attampahar track is expected to minimise the possibility of candidates passing the driving test without demonstrating adequate control over the vehicle.
With the upgraded facility now in place, new licence applicants in Sri Vijaya Puram will undergo testing on the revised track, marking a significant step towards enhancing road safety and responsible driving practices in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The initiative is expected to strengthen the credibility of the licensing process while reinforcing the administration’s commitment to reducing accidents and promoting a culture of safe driving across the Union Territory.
