A licence that does not make sense anymore

With vehicles of 50 cc power no longer manufactured, the number of applications for learner’s licenses has come down

Riding a moped, after getting a Learner’s Licence (LLR) at the age of 17, was a thrill that people of a bygone generation enjoyed.

But now, the number of youngsters, between the age group of 16 and 18, approaching the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) seeking an LLR has come down. Transport officers say this is because the Motor Vehicle Act states those between 16-18 years of age holding the LLR can ride only a gearless vehicle with 50 cc power. Such bikes are no longer manufactured.

The minimum power of a bike today is 70 cc and it is illegal to ride them with an LLR. “Once or twice in six months, some youngsters approach us. We ask them for the RC book of the 50 cc bike they are going to ride. Their parents are also asked to give an undertaking that they won’t allow them to use a bike above 50 cc in power,” a transport officer says.

Many officers feel that it is better to stop giving an LLR to those in this age group as they most often end up using regular bikes. “They can ride electric bikes of 250 W. For that, no licence is needed,” he added.

Fleecing by auto drivers continues On Sunday night, when R. Krishna, a Mogappair resident, took an autorickshaw to Central railway station, he was in for a rude shock as the driver demanded Rs. 300, almost double the meter fare.

“It was 10 p.m. when I took the autorickshaw, an hour before the night charges are applicable. I finally settled for Rs. 200,” rued Mr. Krishna. It’s been a year since the new fare structure came into force. But not all auto drivers follow the meter system.

Several passengers still have to haggle with autorickshaw drivers who demand Rs. 10 or Rs. 20 more than the fare. Some hire autorickshaws on the move instead of approaching those parked in stands to avoid exorbitant charges.

However, auto union members say the situation has improved of late.

J. Seshasayanam, state general secretary, Tamil Nadu AITUC Auto Thozhilalar Sammelanam, says: “We instruct our members to ply by meter norms. About 30 per cent of the auto drivers in city are not full-time professionals and do not belong to any association.”

There are over 72,000 auto rickshaws plying in Chennai. Unless the State government provides meters fitted with GPS as promised last year and brings in uniform rates for regular autos and pre-paid ones, this trend will continue, he says.

(Reporting by Vivek Narayanan and K. Lakshmi)