Road safety: Traffic police to regulate private driving schools

Decision taken after complaints of sub-par training and exorbitant fees.

PESHAWAR: Traffic police have asked all private driving schools in the district to register with the police, otherwise they will be shut down.

The decision was taken after complaints were received that such schools were not producing quality drivers despite overcharging students. Initial estimates reveal there are at least 18 driving schools in the private sector charging between Rs5,000 and Rs8,000 per student. They offer 15-day and one month driving courses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Traffic Police Inspector Asghar Marwat said that they intended to regulate driving schools that were operating without supervision. He said that the learners’ ‘L’ sticker should be placed on all vehicles used by these schools. An emergency brake must also be installed in all cars used for driving lessons.

“We will allot specific routes to these schools... schools cannot be within three kilometres of each other as well,” he explained. A one-month minimum course will be enforced and fees will not be more than Rs3,000 per course. The official fee for a one-month driving course at driving schools run by the Traffic Police is just Rs2,500. “Our inspectors will visit these schools routinely,” he added.

The owners of the private driving schools have been invited to a meeting where they will be informed about the decision made by the Traffic Police. A draft of the regulation has been sent to the Traffic DIG for approval and will be implemented once approved.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2012.