The traffic light wanted to introduce new driving license rules in Germany - but failed because of EU law.
The traffic light cannot keep this coalition promise: “In order to train young people for the dangers of road traffic at an early stage, we will enable accompanied driving from the age of 16.” This is what it says in the coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. However, the EU is standing in the way of the plan.
No driving license from the age of 16: “Germany cannot regulate it unilaterally”
European law currently does not allow implementation, the Federal Ministry of Transport explained to the
dpa
. The ministry of Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) announced: “Since the framework for driving license law is regulated bindingly for all member states at the European level, Germany cannot unilaterally regulate a lowering of the minimum age at the national level.”
According to its own information, the Federal Ministry of Transport initially advocated a model project with the European Commission - and referred to the "positive experiences with accompanied driving from the age of 17". However, in a Commission draft of the EU driving license directive, this request was not complied with, it was now said.
The idea is not new; the topic has been discussed for years. Several federal states such as Lower Saxony and Bavaria had campaigned for such experiments. The Bavarian coalition agreement between the CSU and the Free Voters states: “We are committed to ensuring that in special exceptional cases (travel to and from work and training facilities) a class B driving license can be issued by the administrative authorities for those aged 16 and over.”
This means that everything stays the same for the time being: you can get your driving license at the age of 16, but accompanied driving is only possible from your 17th birthday. It was introduced in 2011. According to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, more than 241,000 young people under 18 got a driving license in 2022 - significantly fewer than when it was introduced.
ADAC for accompanied driving from 16: “Can further reduce the risk of accidents”
The ADAC is still in favor of the lower limit of 16 years “in order to double the learning period,” as a company spokesman explains when asked by
IPPEN.MEDIA
. “From the ADAC’s perspective, a prolonged, controlled build-up of driving experience can further reduce the risk of accidents for novice drivers.”
According to the ADAC, only half of those applying for a driving license from the age of 17 are currently taking advantage of the opportunity to drive accompanied. “It has proven to be successful: these drivers have a significantly lower risk of accidents than those who acquired their driving license in the traditional way.”
Driving license suggestion: Accompanied driving also for adults
Kristin Zeidler, head of the insurer's accident research, disagrees: "For reasons of road safety, we are critical of the idea of driving accompanied cars at the age of 16," says Zeidler when asked. “We have doubts as to whether 16-year-olds have sufficient maturity to drive a car safely.” There is a lack of basic research, but: “Research shows that distraction, danger perception and social-emotional aspects are not yet developed well enough at this age are."
Zeidler's suggestion: "In order to increase road safety for young drivers, accompanied driving should also be opened up to people over 18 instead." Because: "Based on their driving performance, 18 to 24 year olds have the highest risk of causing an accident with personal injury as a driver . Reasons for this include a lack of driving experience, a higher willingness to take risks, distractibility and overestimation of one's own abilities.”