In accordance with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Maruti Suzuki) and the Transport Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to establish ten Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) throughout the state for the purpose of testing driving licences for light motor vehicles (LMV) and two-wheelers (TW).

These ADTTs will be situated in Tamil Nadu in the following locations: Tuticorin, Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Tiruvannamalai, Sivagangai, Marthandam, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore (Central), Madurai (North), and Trichy (West). The sites were chosen based on suggestions made by the Tamil Nadu government’s Transport Department, which took into consideration the large number of driving licences granted as well as the areas’ accessibility to neighbouring cities.

The Honourable Minister of Transportation and Electricity, S.S. Sivasankar, and the Home Secretary, Dheeraj Kumar, IAS, graced the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. Tarun Agarwal, Senior Vice President, CSR, Maruti Suzuki, and Tmt. R Gajalakshmi, IAS, Transport and Road Safety Commissioner, signed the Memorandum of Agreement.

The ADTTs facilitate a technology-enabled, standardised, and objective driving licence testing procedure by utilising video analytics, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Harnessing Automobiles for Safety (HAMS) technologies. This guarantees that there is no human involvement and encourages openness and compliance with the Central Motor Vehicle Regulations.

Minister for Transport and Electricity Thiru S.S. Sivasankar praised Maruti Suzuki for its road safety efforts, saying, “I commend Maruti Suzuki, the leader in the car market, for its ongoing commitment to road safety through impactful initiatives across the country.” This partnership with Maruti Suzuki to set up automated driving licence test tracks is a step towards our government’s goal of increasing road safety in Tamil Nadu. I have no doubt that it will improve road safety regulations throughout the state and encourage responsible driving.

“We are honoured to collaborate with the Government of Tamil Nadu to introduce Automated Driving Test Tracks in the state,” stated Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki. A thorough, exacting, open, and effective evaluation of a driver’s abilities and knowledge is guaranteed by automated driving licence testing. Through this process, only candidates who are competent and skilled are granted a driver’s licence. We think that these talented drivers’ disciplined driving can help create safer roads. Maruti Suzuki is making a modest contribution to enhancing road safety in Tamil Nadu with this project.