Driving License: Big change in driving license rules, separate licenses will be made for commercial vehicles.

Driving License: There is going to be a big change regarding driving license across the country. The central government is once again preparing to implement different categories of licenses for operating commercial vehicles. Under the proposed changes, now to drive heavy vehicles, the driver will have to gain experience in a phased manner, which may take up to four years.

Next license will be made on the basis of experience

According to the new rules, first of all the driver will be required to have at least one year of experience in driving a normal four-wheeler. Only after this he will be given a license for a normal commercial vehicle.

After completion of one year of commercial vehicle, the driver will get the license of Medium Goods Vehicle. At the same time, heavy vehicle license will be issued only after completing one year’s experience on this license. Thus, it would take about four years for a driver to reach the level of driving a heavy vehicle.

The Transport Ministry believes that a major reason for the increasing cases of road accidents is the operation of heavy and commercial vehicles by inexperienced drivers. Keeping this in mind, a decision has been taken to again amend the Motor Vehicle Act (MV Act).

Recently, this issue was discussed in detail in an important meeting chaired by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. It was agreed in the meeting that accidents can be reduced through experience based licensing system.

Why was the separate business license stopped earlier?

It is noteworthy that earlier separate licenses were made for commercial vehicles, but after a decision of the Supreme Court, separate commercial licenses were stopped for vehicles with gross weight up to seven and a half tonnes. However, licenses for medium and heavy goods vehicles continue to be made.

Relief to old license holders

The Transport Department has made it clear that drivers who already have a valid license for a medium or heavy vehicle will not need to get a fresh license. The new rules will be applicable only to new applicants.

States also agreed

In this meeting, Additional Transport Commissioner from Uttarakhand S.K. Singh also participated. He said that all the states have agreed on making separate licenses for the commercial category and for this an amendment is proposed in the Motor Vehicle Act.