The transport minister's reforms to driving licenses provoke criticism
Many citizens in Germany complain about the high costs of obtaining a driver's license, which can reach up to 4000 euros. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder from the CDU party is seeking to reduce these costs through new reforms, but these plans are facing sharp criticism from driving instructors in the Rhein-Main area, who believe that these proposals are unrealistic and may threaten road safety. Mario Wolf, who has been running a driving school named after him in Frankfurt-Rödelheim for over 30 years, sees Schnieder's reforms as impractical. Among what he strongly opposes is the reduction of 'special drives' such as night driving or highway driving, replacing them with the use of driving simulators. Wolf says: 'This is unrealistic. Students need real practical lessons. In simulators, there is no real pressure or life experiences.'
He emphasizes that essential skills such as entering and exiting highways cannot be acquired through theoretical training or simulations, and fears that the absence of these practical experiences will lead to a deterioration in road safety. On the other hand, Wolf welcomes the idea of reducing the number of questions in the theoretical exam by a third, as applicants currently face 1169 questions. However, he considers the complete reliance on digital applications for learning and the cancellation of in-person educational sessions to be a wrong step. "Some students need direct interaction and personal assistance," says Wolf, adding that understanding theories is much more important than just memorizing them. He also criticizes the shortening of the practical exam duration, seeing it as leading to a decrease in the quality of assessment. "The psychological pressure on students is high, and it is better for me to drive with them for a longer time to get a comprehensive picture of their skills."
Wolf does not believe that these reforms will actually lead to a reduction in license costs. He points out that the real reason for the high costs is the lack of test appointments by TÜV. "If a student learns something and cannot take the exam immediately, they must continue training, which increases the cost." He adds that a double hour at his school costs 150 euros, and if the student has to wait two months, they may pay an additional 1200 euros. Volker Fensterviefer, director of the Schwarz driving school in Wiesbaden, completely rejects Schnieder's plans, saying: "Road safety is not a game. A student cannot be trained to drive on snow and ice using a simulator." He also warns of the dangers of canceling night driving, emphasizing that in-person lessons cannot be replaced by a digital application. He points to a technical problem that hinders student registration for exams, as some licensing authorities cannot communicate with TÜV due to using different software. He proposes a practical solution to reduce costs: "In the driving licenses for trucks and buses, VAT is not charged. Why not abolish this tax for car licenses as well?"
Hasib Abbasi, the principal of Hase School in Wiesbaden, views the reforms with caution. He supports reducing the number of theoretical test questions, but opposes completely abolishing mandatory attendance for theoretical lessons. "It is better to continue offering lessons inside the school, but they can be supported by a digital component through the app," says Abbasi.
As for the proposal to reduce the number of mandatory trips, he strongly rejects it. He says: "No matter how good the student is, many of them cannot see the road signs at night. These trips are essential." He also doubts the ability of the reforms to actually reduce costs, pointing out that the prices of training cars have risen, which is reflected in the training fees themselves.