Waiting for a driver’s license test, many aspiring drivers in Thimphu region are starting to run out of patience. The Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) is yet to resume the driving test which was stopped for more than a month.
Many aspiring drivers who have either finished driving training or are undergoing driver training are worried about their test should the RSTA prolong driving test for vehicle licence.
“Due to COVID-19, many officials are battling the virus in borders and seems like there is manpower shortage in offices. But for some private companies like us, it would be very beneficial if the driving test could resume soon. There are over 200 trainees who have completed our course and waiting for the test. They call us every now and then complaining about the test,” said Ugyen Tshering, the General Manager of Gangjung Driver Training Centre.
“If the driving test is not conducted soon, we would forget what we have learnt. And to drive around, we don’t have a licence so we would be fined by traffic police. As it goes into weeks and months, we are forgetting what we have prepared for our test so we would be grateful if the RSTA resume the test soon,” said Sonam Tshering, a trainee driver.
Gangjung Driving Training Centre alone has over 200 people who are waiting to give their test for a licence. There are over six such driving institutes in Thimphu.
In Tsirang, Moni Kumar has been waiting for the test desperately. He has completed his driving training three months ago.
“Since I couldn’t appear for the driving test due to the pandemic, now I am starting to forget what my instructor taught me. Without a car at home, I can’t keep in touch with what I have learnt during the training,” he said.
“I am almost done with the driving test. If we cannot appear for the test immediately, we tend to forget the driving knowledge that we acquired. I would be grateful if the government could lift driving test restriction like other institutes and schools,” added Dorji Khandu, also in Tsirang.
The Officiating Director General of the RSTA said the driving test would resume from next week. The test will be carried out twice a week with about thirty people at a go to adhere to COVID-19 norms. Earlier the test was conducted once a week and over 50 people could sit for the test.
Meanwhile, he said the disruption in public service delivery is due to the shortage of manpower with about 60 per cent of the officials out of station shouldering COVID-19 duties along the borders.
Kinley Dem
