The Minister of Transport, Giannis Karousos shuffles the deck after visits to the Road Transport Department, applying the rotation of staff (even from city to city) so that on the one hand the impression is not formed and on the other hand everyone feels that there is constant control of staff in all levels. It is worth noting that Mr. Karousos received information about the operation and action of staff members which are being monitored.
At the same time, the way candidates are examined for obtaining a driver's license is differentiated, while the examination route will be monitored to determine if the practical examination is really the one that should be done in practice. Measures will be taken not only for the examination of Cypriot drivers but also for foreigners. The Minister of Transport reserves the right to surprise inspections.
Speaking to the newspaper "Phileleftheros", the Minister of Transport stated that after his on-site visits he decided to take the following measures for the purpose of improving and upgrading the process for obtaining a driver's license:
Waiting time:
- Differentiation of the TOM's online booking system to facilitate the reservation of canceled seats,
- Accelerate the process of filling the vacancies for examiners and start the process for filling the vacancies on an extraordinary basis until their permanent filling,
- Increase of available periods for examination by existing staff through overtime and / or placement of more officials in the Driver Examination Offices.
For the purposes of better control and in the context of the effort for rational management and proper operation of the Department, the following measures were taken:
- Rotation of the Heads / Coordinators of the Provincial Offices and other heads of Provincial sectors (such as the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers and the Driver Examination Offices)
- From time to time alternation of examiners from city to city (eg for 2 weeks Larnaca examiners will examine in Nicosia and vice versa),
- Differentiation of the registration register of candidate drivers (for student and regular leave) so that the candidate, the examiner, as well as the person in charge of the Driver's Examination Office sign during the attendance
- Preparation of Application ("Application") and electronic platform to record and control (via GPS) the route of the examination (practical test), through devices that the examiners will have with them,
- Archiving of all documents submitted by third-country nationals for the purpose of proving permanent and legal residence in the Republic, so that they are entitled to attend an examination for a driving license (and a student license).
For the purposes of upgrading the quality of training and examination of candidate drivers, the following measures have been taken:
- It was decided to prepare a new law for the upgrading of driving schools and trainers and driver training. The bill will be discussed with the links of the driving schools and will then be forwarded to Parliament.
- It was decided to conduct the theoretical examination by computer, as the first stage for obtaining a driver's license and as a precondition for someone to undergo a practical test (road test).
Source: Liberal