Thiruvananthapuram: Aspiring drivers in Kerala will now have to demonstrate their ability to identify potential road hazards before obtaining a driving licence. Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam has directed that an online hazard-perception test, modelled on a video game, be made compulsory from December.

The move comes amid a rise in road accidents. Kerala will be the first state in the country to introduce such a test, although provisions for conducting hazard-perception tests already exist under central law.

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Those who obtain a learner’s licence will have to pass the new test within 30 days. Driving schools will also be required to provide training for the test.

The test will comprise 10 one-minute videos featuring potential hazards that a driver may encounter on the road. Each video will contain at least two potential hazards, which candidates will have to identify by pressing a button.

Candidates will lose marks if they fail to identify a hazard within the required time. Each correct response will carry 10 marks, with a total of 100 marks. A minimum score of 60 will be required to pass the test.