As of: March 1, 2024, 3:23 p.m
By: Michelle Brey
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Around 1000 euros less for a driving license sounds tempting.
It is questionable, however, whether the opposition's plans are realistic.
The driving instructors' association sees the situation as bleak.
Munich – High costs are the price for independence: learner drivers would have to pay between 3,500 and 4,500 euros for a driving license.
In Munich it is more expensive than in any other city.
If you want to own the “rag”, you first have to have one thing: money.
Now driving licenses should become cheaper - according to the wishes of transport politicians from the Union (CDU/CSU).
The plan includes more digital and modern driver training.
Robert Klein, board member of the Association of German Driving Instructors (IDFL), met with criticism of the measures.
He made this clear to
IPPEN.MEDIA.
“I say this is complete nonsense”: IDFL doesn’t see cheaper driving licenses coming
“With our measures, driving licenses will be up to 25 percent cheaper,” said CDU transport politician Florian Müller to the
Rheinische Post
on Tuesday (February 27).
Learner drivers are expected to save around 1,000 euros.
At
IPPEN.MEDIA,
Klein countered: “I say this is complete nonsense.
If I were to do something like that as a politician, I would look at whether it is even feasible: Where can we actually save it?”
The driving license costs a lot of money.
(Symbolic image) © Michael Gstettenbauer/Imago/Monika Skolimowska/dpa
The Union’s plans at a glance – driving simulators, digital theory lessons and more
In a concept paper available to the
Rheinische Post
and the German Press Agency (dpa), the Union parliamentary group's transport working group proposes the following points:
Driving simulators should be used more frequently in training.
This would allow driving students to reduce the number of practical driving lessons and driving schools to reduce their fleet.
If necessary, more auditors could be deployed.
For example, from the Bundeswehr or state police.
Some of the theory lessons will take place online.
The further training of driving instructors to become examiners should be made easier and decoupled from engineering training.
Driving simulators for a cheaper driving license?
– Association expects more price increases
IDFL board member Klein explains that the use of driving simulators would not reduce the cost of driving licenses.
A driving simulator costs 20,000 euros.
However, it doesn't stay that way.
“Then you need an annual update, you need maintenance and you need someone to explain this part to the students and to sit through it,” he explains.
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“That’s why driving licenses won’t be cheaper.
I assume that it will then become even more expensive.”
Robert Klein in conversation with IPPEN.MEDIA
Driving simulators cannot replace real driving lessons in the car
He also questions road safety when using possible mandatory driving simulators.
“This does not represent reality,” he warns.
“That can never achieve what a real driving lesson can achieve.
You have a film excerpt - and you're supposed to learn from it?
I think very little of it,” he explains in an interview with
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
A driving simulator in a driving school.
A few are already being used in Germany.
© Funke Photo Services/Imago
Klein admits that the simulator could certainly be used as a supplement for students who are afraid of driving - “we have no problem with that.”
After all, there are already driving schools in Germany that work with the device - but few.
“If the product had proven itself, all driving schools would have jumped on board,” he explains skeptically.
IDFL insists on face-to-face teaching – e-learning modules as a supplement are fine
He also has doubts about online teaching.
“The IDFL wants to maintain face-to-face teaching,” he explains.
Digital teaching had already been discussed during the corona pandemic.
The association generally has no problems with e-learning modules as an additional, non-binding source of information.
However, Klein emphasized the advantages of face-to-face lessons: you can build initial contacts and trust with the driving instructors in person.
Last but not least, purely online lessons would also result in additional costs.
One component is the required equipment, another is the educational supervision, because this “also costs money,” says Klein.
Lack of driving instructors – IDFL makes counter-proposal to Union concept
He is positive about facilitating further training for driving instructors to become examiners and decoupling it from engineering training.
“It is important that they have proper training.” This must also take into account the emotional world of the learner drivers, says Klein at
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
With regard to the personnel problem for driving examiners, Klein makes a counter-suggestion: “In our opinion, the only option is to make the test times flexible again.” He mentioned a period of 30 to 55 minutes.
Due to their professional expertise, driving examiners are certainly able to decide within this time whether a learner driver can take part in road traffic.
According to Klein, the result is at least two more tests per day.
Driver training regulations should be renewed
Klein has been criticizing driving simulators and online lessons since the Union's proposed measures became known.
He also looked closely at the plans of the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV).
The driver training regulations should be renewed.
In addition to driving simulators and online theory lessons, independent theory learning as well as so-called learning status checks play a role here.
The press spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Transport writes in response to a request from
IPPEN.MEDIA
: “As anchored in the coalition agreement, the BMDV plans, for example, to enable more digital elements of driving license lessons.
Discussions are already taking place with the countries responsible for implementation.
The aim is to present a draft for the amendment of the driver training regulations by the end of 2024.” It is clear that driving schools will not be obliged to use driving simulators, it continues.
The IDFL also criticizes the Ministry of Transport's plans
According to the BMDV, independent learning for drivers and learning status checks are already required for driving school training.
It is planned to strengthen these instruments.
It is undisputed that both measures have a positive impact on the learning success of learner drivers.
With regard to learning status checks, Klein criticizes the fact that learner drivers get their driver's license voluntarily - and therefore out of their own or intrinsic motivation.
In a letter from February 2024 to the BMDV, which
IPPEN.MEDIA
has received, it says: “Driving schools cannot and must not allow themselves to be obliged to motivate their customers extrinsically by continually checking whether they meet the theoretical requirements have acquired content relevant to the driving license test at a specific point in time by completely documenting their learning status.”
Meanwhile, the controversial EU reform also caused a stir on the subject of driving licenses.
A much-discussed aspect did not find a majority.