SARBHANG

Nepotism and bribes may provide a fast track to pave the way

10 November, 2009 - Getting a driving license is quite a process and authorities are strict with procedures. First comes the learner’s license, which takes at least six months practice. Then there are the mandatory written and practical tests.

But there is also an easy way out, Kuensel has found. Kuensel interviewed two people, who got their licenses through other means.

Samten (name changed), 54, bought his driving license for Nu 6,000. Samten’s friend, who knew a road safety and transport authority (RSTA) official, paid for his license. “I got it within four months,” he told Kuensel. “Sitting for the test involves a lot of procedures and, if you fail the test, you have to wait until you can sit for the re-test again.”

Pema (name changed), a civil servant, got her license just a month after buying a new car. The 2007 graduate said that she couldn’t get through the test and got in touch with a friend, who knew an RSTA official. Pema claims that she didn’t pay money, but admitted that she got her license through “contacts.”

She told Kuensel having a license boosts her confidence, even though she did not get it the right way. “I feel more confident holding a license now, but I don’t drive in town,” she said.

Kuensel sources said that such practices that have been going on for years are not only carried out in the capital but across the country and across the border.

This is a danger to both drivers and pedestrians, say Thimphu motorists. “I’m not safe just because I drive well or I’ve been driving for the past 15 years,” said Wangchuk, who lives in Thimphu. “Accidents can even when you’re not at fault.”

The RSTA officiating director, Thinley Namgay, said that although RSTA received verbal complaints, no one has come forward with proof. “Unless someone comes with proof, we can’t act,” he said.

Thinley Namgay said that, if such cases exist, both the license holder and the official would be penalised. “The license would be cancelled and disciplinary action taken against the official,” he said.

“How a license was issued can’t be detected through the system. Otherwise we’d have taken appropriate action by now,” said Thimphu’s road transport officer (RTO), Dophu Tshering.

A driving license is mandatory, according to the RSTA Act, to ensure that people, who drive motor vehicles on highways, are competent and aware of safe driving practices and traffic rules.

As per the RSTA regulations, a driver has to get a learner’s license first and wait for six months before he/she can sit for the written test, box test and highway test. There is a committee, who looks into these procedures. If one fails the test, then he/she will have to sit for a re-test after a month or two.

The written test was introduced recently. Earlier, drivers had to sit for a signal test, box test and the highway test, according to officials. Until early last year, driving licenses was printed at the Norbu Rabten press in Thimphu. Now licenses are issued in three regional RSTA offices in Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar, apart from Thimphu.

Licenses made from other countries are endorsed by RSTA without the person having to sit for any test.

Kuensel found that a person can easily obtain licenses from most Indian states after paying a minimal fee to a middleman.

There had been a few cases where the fake licenses were made in Jaigoan, India. “We don’t accept the ones from Jaigoan, but we accept licenses made in other states,” said Thinley Namgay.

During the financial year, 5,562 persons obtained learner’s license from Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar, according to RSTA’s annual report. Around 6,248 ordinary driving licenses and 892 professional driving licenses were issued in the same year.

Records show that vehicle accident cases increased from 196 cases in 1997 to 995 cases in 2008, which averages to two accidents a day. Human error tops the list as the main cause with 754 accidents reported last year.

By Kinga Dema in Kuensel

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