Saxony wants to modernize driving school training via the Federal Council

Saxony wants to modernize driving school training in Germany via a Federal Council initiative. The main aim is to reduce costs. Driving licenses have become very expensive and take a very long time to obtain, said Transport Minister Regina Kraushaar (CDU) after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. Driving licenses should not depend on your wallet.

Road safety should remain the benchmark

"For many young people, especially in rural areas, a driving license is not an option, but a prerequisite for education, work, family and leisure," Kraushaar emphasized. The Bundesrat initiative starts where costs arise. "We need less repetition, less idle time, and we need significantly more predictability as well as clear quality standards." Saxony expects a significant boost from digital forms of learning. However, road safety remains the benchmark.

Saxony calls for modern standards for training

Saxony's initiative demands speed and clarity from the federal government. A draft bill must quickly follow from the previous key points, it said. Driving schools and learner drivers also need clarity as to what will change. Saxony is demanding modern standards for the training itself. Theory, practice and independent learning must be better interlinked, said Kraushaar.

Exams should be possible from the age of 16

According to Economics Minister Dirk Panter (SPD), Saxony is also in favor of exams being possible from the age of 16. He also made a reference to the labor market. "For many companies, mobility is a prerequisite to enable training and work at all - in the trades, in care or in logistics."

Many driving instructors in Saxony are already older than 65

According to Kraushaar, there are currently 554 driving schools in Saxony, 409 in more rural areas and 145 in the three district-free cities. A total of around 2,200 driving instructors are registered, around a quarter of whom are older than 65. The failure rate is high and is 44 percent in the theory test and 40 percent in the practical test. In Saxony, the average driving license costs around 3,300 euros.

Kraushaar also made it clear, however: "Anyone who needs a driving license should not hope for a supposedly cheaper future now. It is not a reform on demand."