Hazard Perception Test: Kerala first to make it mandatory
Why in the news
Kerala will become the first State to demand a computer-based Hazard Perception Test (HPT) from driving licence applicants, starting December 2026.
Key facts
- HPT: simulated traffic scenes; applicants must spot potential dangers at the right moment.
- Already permitted under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
- Tests anticipation, not rule recall.
- The UK began it in 2002; Australia and others also use it.
- The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 governs licensing through State Transport Authorities/RTOs; motor vehicles sit on the Concurrent List.
| Road safety (2024) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Accidents | 4,87,707 |
| Deaths | 1,77,175 (about 485 daily) |
| Deaths per 100 accidents | 21.6 (2005) to 36.3 (2024) |
| Two-wheeler riders, share of deaths | 46.2% |
| Pedestrians, share of deaths | 20.6% |
| Age 18-45, share of deaths | 66.1% |
| Estimated GDP loss | About 3% |
Related
- Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: electronic enforcement (136A), Good Samaritan (134A), Golden Hour cashless care (162), contractor liability (198A), vehicle recall (110A).
- Bharat NCAP, automated test tracks, Safe Systems approach; SDG 3.6 and the Brasilia Declaration.
Exam angle
- First State: Kerala; from December 2026.
- Section numbers of the 2019 amendment.
- SDG 3.6: halve road traffic deaths.