Kannur: Taking a driving license has become a herculean task in Kerala due to the two lockdowns over COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions imposed. Over thousands of people are waiting for the date of the driving license test after taking learner's license. As per the rule, the learner's license will be valid only for 6 months. If people fail to take a driving license within 6 months, they have to apply again.

The Motor Vehicle Department has been continuously extending the validity of the learner's license from February 2020 as the tests are not conducted on time. As per the latest order, the learner's license will be valid till September 30.

According to the officials, the validity of the learner's license is likely to be extended in the coming days.

Those who have learner's license are allowed to drive a vehicle by displaying ‘L’ board on the front and rear of the vehicle. But a person who holds a valid driving license must accompany the person while practising. Nowadays, the MVD has been ignoring this rule.

An online test is conducted for learner's license. Most of the people are getting a date for this test. Application for the driving license is also submitted online. The applicants will get a date for the test once they submit the application. But the applicants have been complaining that the portal for submitting the application is no more active. The portal used to be active for one or two minutes around 6 am and midnight. There are many people who are waiting for many weeks to submit the application.

Due to the COVID restrictions, only 55 people will be allowed to take the test per day under a transport office. 20 each will have the test in two schedules from 8.30 am to 9.30 am and 9.30 am to 10.30 am. Test of other 15 will be completed within an hour. In some offices, only 40 will be allowed a day.

Though more than 80 RTO/joint RTO offices are functioning in Kerala, only over 4000 people are allowed to attend the driving license test. It is learned that applicants who have submitted the application one and half years ago are still waiting for the test.

Before the COVID outbreak, 100-120 people were allowed to attend the test. The number of people using private vehicles is increasing day by day following the pandemic. Hence, the number of applicants for driving license also is on the rise.

Nowadays, compared to men, more women are taking admission in driving schools, informed driving school owners.