BRTA makes red 'L' sign mandatory on learner drivers' vehicles, says driving without a full licence is punishable

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has issued a new instruction for learner licence holders.

The instruction was posted on BRTA's Facebook page on Friday (6 November) afternoon.

"Driving a motor vehicle on the road without a main licence is a punishable offence. A learner licence holder may drive only during training with a valid instructor, and a large red 'L' sign must be displayed at a visible place on the vehicle," the instruction says.

Under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, when a learner driver takes a vehicle onto the road, a large red 'L' — short for 'Learner' — must be written or hung as a board at visible places at the front and back of the vehicle.

The purpose of the sign is so that drivers of other vehicles on the road can recognise from a distance that the vehicle is being driven by a new driver, and keep a sufficient distance and drive with caution.

In Bangladesh, a person learning to drive before obtaining a driving licence is called a learner driver.