The TÜV Association warns against plans of the Federal Ministry of Transport to make automatic transmission in driving school cars to the standard. "In contrast to countries like the USA, the switchgear is still the norm in Germany - especially for novice drivers," said the managing director of the TÜV association, Joachim Bühler. "If these are without sufficient driving experience with a car with circuit and clutch on the way, it becomes dangerous."
Anyone who does his driver's license test with an automatic car must not drive a vehicle with a manual gearshift - but must complete an additional practical test. The Federal Ministry of Transport wants to change that.
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In the future, therefore, an additional driver training could be sufficient. Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) wants to make the automatic driver's license more attractive - also so that more e-cars are used in driving schools. Wagons with hydrogen or battery electric drive do not need to be switched by hand, also numerous driver assistants are only available in conjunction with an automatic transmission.
For the new regulation, an EU directive would have to be amended. Currently, "preliminary votes" are being negotiated between the Ministry of Transport and the European Commission, the ministry said. First, the "Auto Bild" had reported on the plans.
"A disservice"
"This proposal would do a disservice to road safety on German roads," says Bühler of the TÜV Association. With increasing traffic density, new vehicles such as e-scooters and additional technology in the vehicles, the demands on the drivers increase. Therefore novice drivers would have to prove in the interest of all road users that they are able to control their vehicle safely.
With a few hours of practice on an empty supermarket parking lot was not done. If you want to drive with a car with manual transmission, you should continue to take a driver's license test with a switching vehicle at a test center.
In Germany, the TÜV organizations and the Dekra carry out the theoretical and practical driving license tests. They also provide the examiners who ride in the back seat.