UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

TRANS/WP.1/71

30 May 2000

Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety

(Thirty-fifth session, 3-6 October 2000,

agenda item 6 (a))

METHODS OF TRAINING AND FOLLOW-UP FOR CATEGORIES

A AND B DRIVING LICENCES

Note by the secretariat

Reproduced below is a consolidated document established by the secretariat on the basis of information received from Governments on the subject. The document comprises data appearing in TRANS/SC.1/WP.1/1997/2 and Adds. 1-2 and Corrigenda.

___________

GE.00-

METHODS OF TRAINING AND FOLLOW-UP FOR CATEGORIES A AND B DRIVING LICENCES

A. Initial training

Country	Initial driver training

before taking the driving

test	1. Driving-school training
Classes in driving schools taken by beginners	Proportion

of test

applicants	Minimum number of classes
for driving theory	for driving practice	for driving theory	for driving practice
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

O

C

O

O 19/

C

C

C

C 34/

C

O

C 34/

C 2/	C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

O

O 19/

C

C

C

C 34/

C

O

C 34/

O	C

C

C

C 24/

O

C

C

-

O

O

-

C

C

C

C

C

O 36/

C

O	C

C

C

C 24/

O

C

C

C

C 1/

O

-

C

C

C

C

C

O

C

-	C

C

C

C 24/

O

C

O

-

O

O

-

C

C

C

C

C

O 37/

C

O	C

C

C

C 24/

O

C

O

C

C 1/

O

-

C

C

C

C

C

F 19/

C

-

100%

99%

-

99%

98%

-

100%

8%

6%

100%

99%

100%

100%

-

70%

95%

75%

100%

100%

99%

-

80-

85%

95%

-

100%

100%

95%

100%

99%

100%

100%

-

80%

95%

78%

98%

R

R

-

R

NR

R

R

-

R

R

NR

R

R

R

R

NR

R

R

NR

R

R

-

R

NR

R

R

R

R

R

NR

R

R

R

R

NR

R

R

NR	R

R

-

R

R 27/

R

NR

-

R

R

NR

R

R

R

R

NR

R

R

NR

R

R

-

R

R 27/

R

N

R

R

R

N

R

R

R

R

NR

NR

R

NR

Legend: C = Compulsory; O = Optional; R = Required; NR = Not Required

A. Initial training (cont'd)

Country	1. Driving-school training (cont'd)
Training is based on a set programme

(Yes/No)	Programme is devised by:	Follow-up of this

programme is compulsory for driving schools

(Yes/No)	Programme includes

instruction on traffic

conditions,

risk-taking and general driving

behaviour

(Yes/No)
Competent authorities

(administration)

(Yes/No)	Driving schools

(Yes/No)	Other institutions

(Yes/No)
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
1	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes	Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

A. Initial training (cont'd)

Country	2. During training
Learner-driver procedure which the candidate is subject to follow is:	Administrative formalities which have to be complied with:	Practical measures relating to the status of learner-driver:
Declaration to the competent

authority

(Yes/No)	Other

(as specified)	A distinctive sign on the vehicle

(Yes/No)	Compulsory initial training in driving schools

(Yes/No)	Pedagogical follow- up by driving schools

(Yes/No)	Compulsory presence of an instructor in the vehicle

(Yes/No)
Compulsory

(Yes/No)	Optional

(Yes/No)
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
1	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom	Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

-

Yes

Yes

No

Medical test

Medical test

-

25/

-

Medical test

16/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38/

Medical test

-

Medical test

Medical test

-

25/

28/

-

Medical test

16/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38/

Medical test

-

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

-

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

-

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

A. Initial training (cont'd)

Country	2. During training (cont'd)	3. Before taking the

driving test

Requirements which the instructor must meet:

Restrictions on driving on certain roads or at certain times

(Yes/No)

Restrictions include:

Minimum age for training

or for learner- driver	All these conditions apply to learner- drivers regardless of the age of new licence-holders

(Yes/No)	Applicants are required to pass:

Holder of special diploma

(Yes/No)	Above a minimum age

(Yes/No)	Other (as specified)	Dual-control vehicle

(Yes/No)	Existence of a learner-driver follow-up document

(Yes/No)	Other

(as specified)	a general medical examination

(Yes/No)	an eye-test

(Yes/No)
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
1	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	63
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

3/

-

4/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

22/

-

39/

22/

-

-

3/

-

4/

29/

-

-

4/

5/

-

-

-

-

-

22/

-

39/

22/

-

Yes 7/

No

No

No

No

Yes

-

Yes 6/

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes 7/

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes 6/

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

-

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7/

-

35/

-

-

35/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7/

-

35/

-

35/

-

14/

17

18

15 5/

17.5

16

-

16

14

16

16

18

15/17

18

18

14

-

18

16

17

18

18

18

17.5

16

-

18

16

18

17.5

18

17

18

18

16

-

18

18

17

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No	Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

B. Follow-up measures

Country	Special conditions applicable to new licence holders	Compulsory probationary licence once the driving licence has been obtained	Special conditions linked to the probationary licence
Specific speed limit:	Restrictions on vehicle characteristics	Other

(as specified)	for all new drivers regardless of age (Yes/No)	for some new drivers

(Yes/No)	length of the probationary period (years)	Restriction of movement (some days, at night)

(Yes/No)	Various sanctions

(Yes/No)	Other (as specified)
km/h	for the period of

(years)	the kind of restriction	for the period of (years)
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
1	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

15/

-

-

80

30/

-

-

70

70

75 9/

90 9/

-

-

10/

-

Yes

80

-

Yes

-

15/

-

-

80

30/

-

100

70

70

75 9/

90 9/

-

-

10/

-

Yes

80

-

Yes

-

2

-

-

1

2

-

-

2

2

40/

-

-

10/

-

2

1

-

2/

-

2

-

-

2

2

-

3

2

2

40/

-

-

10/

-

2

1

-

2/

-

-

-

-

31/

-

3

8/

-

8/

-

-

-

-

-

-

36/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

31/

-

3

8/

-

8/

-

-

-

-

-

-

36/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

20/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes 41/

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.2-6

2

-

-

-

2

-

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-	-

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

No

-

Yes

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

No

-

Yes 26/

Yes

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

No

No

No

-

No

No

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

13/

11/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

27/

-

-

-

-

-

13/

11/

-

-

-

-

-

-

B. Follow-up measures (cont'd)

Country	Licence-points system
Licence-points system is implemented

(Yes/No)	This system is based on:	Number of penalty points or points initially allocated	Consequences for the validity of the driving licence once the maximum number of penalty points is reached or all the points are lost	Possibility of deducting penalty points or regaining points
the allocation of penalty points

(Yes/No)	the loss of points initially allocated

(Yes/No)
Category	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A and B	A and B
1	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95
Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Spain

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom	No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No 21/

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes	No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No 21/

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes	-

-

-

No

Yes

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Yes

-

-

No

Yes

-

-

-

No

Yes

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Yes

-

-

No

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

No

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

No

-

-

No

No

-

-

-

Yes

No

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

No

-

-

No

No

-

-

-

12

18

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

15

-

-

-

12 12/

-

-

-

12

18

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

15

-

-

-

12 12/

-

-

-

32/

17/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

23/

-

-

-

Discretionary order to repeat test

-

-

-

33/

18/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Systematically following a period without offences

-

-

-

Systematically, following a period without offences

Footnotes

1/	Candidates for category B driving licence who graduated from a university with the automobile specialization can get their theoretical and practical training on their own. In this case a candidate must be accompanied during the practical training by a holder of category B driving licence for 3 years.

2/	Compulsory basic training.

3/	Driving practice.

4/	Holder of categories B and C driving licence for 3 years.

5/	The instructor must be a holder of the master degree diploma.

6/	Streets and roads where beginners can get their driving practice shall be agreed upon with the State Road Police.

7/	Training on motorway is prohibited.

8/	For driving motor cycles over 25 KW and over 0.16 KW/kg - the candidate must be a holder of category A licence for at least 2 years and be at least 21 years of age.

9/	75 km/h on roads outside built-up areasand 90 km/h on motorways.

10/	Speed limit for handicapped persons fixed individually.

11/	New examination in the case of the retirement of driving licence as a result of infraction of traffic code.

12/	No more than 12 penalty points can be gained in a 3-year period.

13/	Skid and dark driving (additional training within 2 years).

14/	Mopeds: 16 years

Motor cycles up to 350 cc.: 18 years

Motor cycles over 350 cc.: 21 years.

15/	50 km/h on urban roads; 70 km/h on interurban roads; 100 km/h on motorways.

16/	Contract for training.

17/	Withdrawal of the licence and mandatory repetition of whole test or part (theoretical or practical).

18/	4 points by taking refresher courses.

19/	Driver training is not compulsory. However 99 per cent of candidates take lessons in driving schools.

20/	2 years' experience on light motor cycles.

21/	Law introducing a point system is under preparation.

22/	The instructor must be in possession of a document entitling him to provide driving instruction or have more than three years' driving experience, as well as a driving licence for the appropriate category of vehicle.

23/	Licence suspended for a specific period and the right to drive regained automatically.

24/	Learner driver procedure is also possible.

25/	Permit from an administrative authority.

26/	The licence can be withdrawn for up to 6 months if the distinctive sign of a new driver is not used or the specific speed limit for a new driver is exceeded.

27/	If training is taken in a driving school.

28/	Declaration to the insurance company.

29/	Holder of category B driving licence for 3 years, not condemned for serious infraction of the road code.

30/	Since 5 May 1994:

110 km/h - on motorways;

100 km/h - on 2 x 2 lane roads;

80 km/h - on other roads.

31/	Since 1 July 1996: To drive motor cycles over 0.16 KW/kg the candidate must be a holder of a category A licence for 2 years.

32/	Invalidation of the licence and mandatory repetition of the test. A person whose licence has been invalidated can repeat the test 6 months after the date of invalidation:

The whole test, if he has held a driving licence for less than 3 years,

The theoretical part only, if he has held a driving licence for more than 3 years.

33/	By taking refresher courses (4/5 points regained) or systematically, following a period of 3 years without offences. The total number of points regained cannot exceed 11.

34/	Candidates may prepare independently to obtain categories A and B driving licences in line with the respective programmes.

35/	A motor vehicle used for driving instruction must be identified with the distinctive signs "Learner vehicle" and have a rear-view mirror for the instructor. However, if the vehicle belongs to a training organization, it must be fitted with an additional clutch pedal and brake pedal.

36/	Only for candidates for a category A1 driving licence. A candidate for a category A driving licence must have driven a motor cycle of A1 category regularly for at least two years.

37/	A basic practical training of eight hours' duration by a specialized instructor, for candidates for a category A1 driving licence.

38/	When presenting himself for an examination, the candidate must present a certificate confirming that he has followed a first-aid course for assistance to injured persons.

39/	To be admitted for training as an instructor, the candidate should be over 22 years old, must have held a Swiss driving licence for at least two years and must have driven a motor vehicle during that period without infringing road safety regulations.

40/	Until passing a complementary training course given by an accredited training centre.

41/	Not for subcategory A1.

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