Maruti to start 'Maruti Driving Schools'

Maruti Udyog (MUL) said it will set up driving schools across the country modelled on international lines.

These Maruti driving schools (MDS) will give classroom as well as practical training, and will also teach about attitude and road behaviour, as per international practice.

The company said its driving schools would be equipped with world-class simulators, to allow learners familiarise themselves with the controls of the car before taking the actual vehicle on the road.

"These will also simulate various road and weather conditions like fog, dim light, uphill and downhill terrain, to provide comprehensive training to learners," Maruti said.

Specially trained and groomed instructors will impart training in a hi-tech, air-conditioned environment at MDS, the company said.

Each driving instructor will be intensively trained for a fortnight at institute of driving training & research (IDTR), Delhi, which is managed by Maruti.

Company Managing Director Jagdish Khattar said, "we are very concerned about mounting deaths on Indian roads. These can be brought down if government, industry and the voluntary sector work together in an integrated manner."

The MDS will be set up in partnership with Maruti dealerships which will operate and manage the schools. The company said this will be a self-sustaining activity for Maruti and making additional profits is not its objective.

The first of the MDS will come up in Bangalore, followed by Kollam (in Kerala) and Chandigarh, by end of this month.