THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Driving school owners have been significantly affected by changes in the conduct of driving license tests. They're protesting against the government and the motor vehicle department due to a high failure rate among students. Simultaneously, a new crisis is brewing in vehicle smoke inspection centers, further complicating matters for the department.

The owners' protest is primarily against the non-renewal of licenses for smoke testing establishments and the suspension of their IDs for up to three months statewide. Allegedly, the Transport Commissioner (TD) squad is taking action on trivial matters without seeking explanations or issuing notices.

The Association of Authorized Testing Stations for Motor Vehicles Kerala has announced plans to close smoke testing centers across the state on Monday. They will also stage a demonstration and sit-in at the Transport Commissioner's office in Thiruvananthapuram to protest these measures.

Recently, vigilance caught two motor vehicle department officials in Thrissur and Kozhikode accepting bribes related to vehicle smoke inspection centers. Some view these measures as retaliatory. A strike by smoke testing centers would affect the public more than one by driving school operators, as vehicle owners won't be able to release their vehicles if they fail the smoke test.