Separate Driving License to Drive Public and Private Vehicles The Transport Improvement Suggestion Task Force has suggested that separate driver’s licenses be arranged for driving public vehicles and private vehicles. The Transport Improvement Suggestion Working Group has suggested that there is a need for separate driver’s licenses to drive public vehicles and private vehicles.
According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport System, this provision is included in the draft of the Vehicle and Transport Act Amendment Bill which is in the final stage.
A different examination system and renewal system have been targeted for both types of driving licenses. Practical knowledge related to the physical structure and systems of vehicles, practical skills to identify and maintain the main malfunctions that may occur in vehicles, legal provisions related to public transportation, dealing with passengers, employers, and other road users, and the knowledge related to duties towards them is not sufficient for public vehicle drivers. It has been pointed out that this type of arrangement should be made to make public transport safe, dignified, and orderly.
The task force suggested that to allow drivers with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate public transport, a commercial driver’s license for public transport drivers and a general i.e. non-commercial driver’s license for other drivers should be arranged. In this, it is said that public vehicles can only be driven by holders of commercial vehicle driver’s licenses, and when driving such a vehicle, the driver must wear the prescribed dress and must also arrange for an identity card.
Similarly, it is also said that only persons who have received special training related to commercial driver’s licenses can apply for commercial driver’s licenses. Although the validity period of the driver’s license is 10 years, the holder of the commercial driver’s license must undergo a health check every year, and if found unfit, it is also proposed to suspend the license for the entire period.
For this arrangement, provisions regarding non-commercial and commercial driver’s licenses and separate systems for issuing and renewing those licenses should be provided in the Vehicle and Transportation Act and Regulations.
In addition, for its proper implementation, it has been suggested to the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and the Provincial Governments to ensure that digital readable codes are placed on the driver’s license and that all types of records remain under the Department of Transport Management and the Traffic Police Office.