How do we Compare?

The desire to reduce the figure where young drivers are concerned has picked up momentum significantly in the years since the millennium, in the UK we are just starting to dip our toes into unknown territory as far as training is concerned, which means we lag behind some EU countries, Germany in particular.  So how can it be with their rigorous training the roads in Germany are not as safe as ours?

Theory test training has been viewed as a positive move, yet it appears drivers prior to 1996 studied the Highway Code in greater depth, and were more rigorous when learning road signs, Germany has taken this information on board with compulsory in class training and a steer away from multi choice practice, which we have lazily slipped into. Twelve double periods in class are a requirement, for a cat B licence.

Country roads or trunk roads training is carried out for a minimum distance of 50km in any one session and a minimum driving time of 225 minutes, with motorway driving attracting at least 135 minutes with a single journey being no shorter than 45 minutes. A minimum 90 minutes should be spent driving in the dark with half of that time on a country road. This demonstrates that there is
a good positive move towards dealing with the risk, in the UK it is country roads, an area that an instructor can choose to use for training as opposed to a compulsory requirement.

The driving test must be taken within twelve months of passing a theory test, you are required to have an eye sight certificate and have completed a first aid course. So much more rigorous than our requirements. Similar to Belgium, the pupil must enrol with a driving school, so no concerns over unpaid cancellations, there are approximately 28,000 driving schools, instructors are employed by the school this is after passing an eight month training course at a recognised training establishment, they need to be licenced to drive all classifications of vehicles regardless of the classification they plan to teach.

Training school for potential driving instructors involves a state testing system for written, oral and practical skills as well as a test of classroom and on road teaching skills, so a far reach from our system which highlights the potential for change and identifies where some of the proposals come from within the consultation document.  The EURSC consider a more formal approach to training and a serious commitment from the student to register with a school and to be bound by their terms and conditions, shows how much change could be effected in coming years.

So why have we not adopted a complete overhaul to coincide with similar training in other EU countries, cost is a major factor, we also have a high number of instructors this would mean a cull of the list, and how would that be possible when we are self employed, who would go and who would stay. The evidence is that research to date sees no dramatic improvement in road safety figures, with the UK being in the top three of best performing countries with regard to road safety and fatality figures year on year, without rigorous training, so the powers that be would struggle to justify the expense.  Change will obviously become apparent, but it will take a lot of years of input and a political party that rises above the expected to deliver serious results and keep a clear sight of the real target, zero vision borne out of zero tolerance.