Driving instruction in Germany

By: Deutsche Fahrlehrer-Akademie E.V.

Date: Sunday, 13. August 2006

Driving instruction in Germany has gone through a process of constant improvement over a period of many decades, as can be seen from a few important milestones:

Compulsory driving licences were introduced throughout the German Reich by the Law on Motor Vehicle Traffic of May 3, 1909 and the Ordinance on Motor Vehicle Traffic of Feb. 3, 1910.

An Ordinance on the Training of Motor Vehicle Drivers passed on Mar. 1, 1921 provided the basis for the creation of the profession of "Driving Instructor", compulsory licensing of instructors and driving schools, and detailed requirements regarding the instruction given to learner drivers.

In 1957, the requirements concerning driving instructors, driving schools and the equipping of driving schools were redefined in an Ordinance on Driving Instructors for Motor Vehicle Traffic of July 23. On Aug. 25, 1969, the Law on driving Instruction for the first time regulated the professional and specialists skills required of the owners of driving schools and driving instructors themselves.

Three more ordinances served to further improve the situation: the Ordinance on the Instruction of Learner Drivers of May 31, 1976 covered theoretical and practical instruction of learner drivers, the Ordinance on the Training of Driving Instructors of May 13, 1977 laid down the nature and contents of driving instructor training, and the Ordinance on the Examination of driving Instructors of July 27, 1979 covered the testing of driving instructors.

Finally, on May 13, 1986, the probationary driving licence was introduced, the retraining of vehicle drivers who have infringed traffic regulations during the probationary period was put in the hands of licensed driving instructors, and driving instruction by lay persons was prohibited.

Basic requirements for instructors

The central figure in professional driving instruction in Germany is, of course, the driving instructor. For this reason, all those wishing to become instructors have to fulfill certain basic requirements: they must be at least 23 years of age, be suited to the profession intellectually, physically and in terms of personality, have undergone basic secondary school education followed by vocational training in a recognized subject, be in possession of a driving licence for all classes of vehicle, and have sufficient experience driving vehicles in the class for which they wish to become instructors.

Training must take place in an officially recognized training establishment for driving instructors. Candidates must demonstrate their subject expertise by taking an examination. Training last between five (minimum) and eight (maximum) months, irrespective of the class of vehicle for which the trainee wishes to become an instructor. The entire training must consists of whole-day uninterrupted courses of instruction.

The content of the training is laid down in the curriculum, which describes the subject areas and number of hours instruction required. A minimum of 700 hours' instruction are required for Class 3 (BE) at least 280 for Class 2 (CE) and at least 140 for Class 1 (A). The following subject areas are covered: principles of pedagogy and psychology; traffic regulations and hazards on the road; legal aspects; motor vehicles technology; environmental protection, energy-saving driving techniques; lesson-planning; teaching practice; safe and skillful driving techniques; legal aspects of the profession.

Testing of instructors

When training has been completed, trainee instructors are tested by state examination boards. The tests are divided into written, oral and practical sections, and a practical test of the trainee's classroom and on-road teaching skills.

The written examination involves the candidates solving problems related to traffic law and motor vehicle technology. The oral examination tests subject knowledge. The practical part tests the candidates' ability to drive a vehicles safely and skillfully in road traffic. The practical teaching test requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to teach in the classroom, and in the on-road test they demonstrate their ability to instruct learner drivers in road traffic.

Candidates who are successful in the examination and meet the other requirements receive licences as driving instructors.

Those wishing to acquire an additional qualification as instructors for probationary drivers referred back for further training have to pass a special training course, be in possession of driving instructor licences for classes 1 (A) and 3 (BE), and have the necessary instructing experience.

Further training plays an important role: it is obligatory for those responsible for retraining probationary drivers and voluntary for normal instructors. Annual participation in further training courses can, however, exempt individual instructors from inspection within the framework of the provisions for inspection of driving schools.

It is planned that in the future the training of driving instructors will be given an even stronger practical slant. At the same time, the pedagogical content will be increased, the examination system simplified and further training will become compulsory for all instructors.

Learner drivers

Learner drivers in Germany receive instruction on the basis of the Ordinance on the Instruction of Learner Drivers of May 31, 1976, which is continually updated.

This starts by describing the objectives, contents, extent and nature of driving instruction, and then lays down basic principles relating to it. Central importance is given to the organization of the theoretical and practical aspects of instruction. The driving instructor is permitted to terminate the process of instruction only when he is certain that the leaner driver involved has actually acquired the necessary knowledge and skills.

The objectives and contents of instruction consists of the learner learning to drive a motor vehicle safely and defensively with due consideration for other road users and displaying an awareness of his responsibility towards his fellow human beings and the environment. The extent and nature of instruction are designed to differentiate between theoretical and practical instruction but to ensure that the two are appropriately related to each other within the process.

The general principles laid down for the process of instruction are that it should move "from the known to the unknown" and "from the straightforward to the difficult." The value of stimulating the direct participation of the learners through questions and discussion is stressed. Driving schools are encouraged to move away from the traditional "chalk and talk" approach towards more modern methods of teaching (e.g. group discussions).

Theoretical instruction

The following areas are covered by the theoretical teaching:

1. Regulations related to licensing of individuals and vehicles for road traffic.
2. Regulations relating to behavior in road traffic and the operation of motor vehicles; environmental protection.

In addition to this, the question of hazards on the road is extensively covered. The topic is divided into traffic observation and behavior, considerate behavior, accident risks through incapability to drive (including fatigue, alcohol); driving techniques, brakes and their function, tires. In addition to the above, there are specific contents related to the individual classes of licence.

A program of instruction divided into double teaching periods (90 minutes) must be drawn up as a basis for instruction and this may not exceed two double periods per day.

The filling in of practice multiple-choice tests does not qualify as instruction and may not be counted towards fulfillment of the minimum period of instruction, even though it is by no means "forbidden" and indeed may well be useful with regard to the multiple-choice type test eventually to be taken by learners.

The minimum number of hours instruction for theoretical instruction are laid down-for example 12 double periods for Class 3 (B).

Practical instruction

Practical instruction consists of basic instruction, extended driving sessions, advanced exercises and test preparation. The basic instruction constitutes the largest element in the practical instruction.

The location and timing of this part of the training is largely up to the individual instructor, but it is usually carried out on private or little-frequented roads. Although there are no specific time requirements, the extended driving sessions may only be carried out towards the end of the practical instruction.

These extended driving sessions are an important addition to the initial practical instruction and serve to familiarize the learner with the specific problems of driving outside built-up areas.

Minimum durations are laid down for these, and are specified as follows: at least 225 minutes must be spent driving on trunk roads or country roads with a distance of at least 50 km being travelled in any one session; at least 135 minutes just be spent driving on motorways or dual carriageways with each journey lasting at least 45 minutes; and a minimum of 90 minutes should be reserved for driving in twilight or darkness, half of this on trunk roads or country roads.

Further exercises

These extended driving sessions are followed by the so-called advanced, test-preparation phase, containing further exercises and preparation for the test itself. In all cases, the instructor may only terminate instruction when he is convinced that the learner driver involved has actually acquired the knowledge and skills required to pass the test.

The goal of driving instruction is no longer just to impart knowledge and techniques, but also to put across the social and ethical values, in other words to inculcate behavioral patterns and attitudes which are no less significant in reducing accident risks than the actual driving skills themselves.

During the process of instruction, the learner driver is made aware that he carries a high degree of responsibility towards his fellow human beings and his environment.

The success of driving instruction in Germany can be seen particularly in the declining number of fatal accidents - despite a continued increase in traffic volume. The German driving schools do not claim the sole credit for this positive development, but they have undoubtedly played a significant role in bringing it about.

Nevertheless, the specific accident risk which novice drivers represent cannot be completely eradicated, whatever the quality of the instruction they have received. This has, however, been reduced further since the introduction of the probationary driving licence in 1986.

The driving test

The driving test consists of a theoretical and a practical part. An officially recognized expert or examiner for motor vehicle traffic is responsible for the entire test. If a candidate fails, the test can be repeated. Candidates are only admitted to the practical test when they have passed the theoretical part.

The theoretical test uses multiple-choice questions to establish whether the candidate has the necessary knowledge. A candidate passes the test if he does not exceed the permissible number of errors laid down in the test statutes. The theoretical tests should, in principle, be carried out in German, but the basic material may also be examined in various foreign languages.

The practical test consists of a test drive which includes certain basic driving tasks. The tasks, which are laid down in the test statues for each class of licence, are intended to demonstrate that the candidate is capable of properly operating and controlling the vehicle. The test drive is, above all, intended to demonstrate that even in difficult traffic situations the candidate is capable of safely driving the vehicle and adapting his driving to the situation.

The driving test is also carried out on country roads and motorways. A candidate passes the practical test if the basic driving tasks are accomplished without error and during the test drive he does not commit any grave errors or accumulate an excess of minor errors.

In summary

In 1992 there were some 16,000 driving schools operating in Germany.

Eighteen autonomous Land associations with a total of some 18,000 members (including driving instructors employed) look after the interests of their members in each federal Land. Their umbrella organization is the National Driving School Association Inc. of Germany, which has its official seat in Bonn.

The organs of the National Driving Schools are: the Assembly of Members (delegates); the overall Board, made up of the chairpersons of the Land associations; the Executive Board. The main goal of the National Driving School is to further the cause of traffic safety and protection of the environment by assuring professional initial and further training of vehicle drivers. It also works to support a modern pedagogically conceived profession of driving instructor and to support and preserve private driving schools.

Had it not been for the united efforts of the driving instructors' associations and the many pedagogical, specialist and organizational ideas which they have come up with over the last 40 years, driving instruction in Germany would not have achieved its present high standards. An important role has been played by the ongoing exchange of ideas which has taken place with scientists, politicians and top administrators.

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