THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four days have passed since the suspension of driving tests in the state. The joint strike of driving school owners has intensified their protest against the test reform, resulting in 90% of the grounds coming to a standstill. Those who have paid and waited for the test are suffering.

According to the revised order, only 40 tests per day are allowed under each RTO office. The main demand of the protesters is to increase this number to 60 and to adjust the number of tests according to the number of officers in the district headquarters. The protest committee also demands that vehicles without additional clutch and brake be brought for the driving test and that the new instruction prohibiting vehicles older than 15 years from being used for the test be withdrawn. AKMDS, BMS and DSOK are the organizations involved in the struggle.

M S Prasad, the State General Secretary of the All Kerala Motor Driving School Instructors and Workers Association stated that the strike committee has decided to organize a secretariat dharna soon against the reforms. Meanwhile, C T Anil, General Secretary of All Kerala Driving School Owners and Workers Union (CITU) has announced that the union is temporarily abstaining from the protest but won't hinder those who choose to strike.