Traffic
TÜV NORD Mobility: Almost half of young drivers are motoring with BF17
Hanover: Altogether 45.8 per cent of new licence holders in Germany make use of the scheme whereby it is possible to start driving at age 17, if accompanied by an experienced driver. However, according to TÜV NORD Mobilität, this percentage differs between Federal States. Nevertheless, it has risen everywhere in comparison with last year. As Klaus Kleinherbers, Member of the TÜV NORD Board of Management for the Mobility business unit says : “Interest in accompanied driving from the age of 17 is particularly strong in country areas. Those who take the theoretical and practical driving test are supported intensively by parents and friends. Compared with others taking the tests, those taking advantage of the scheme have a ten per cent higher pass rate.”
With ‘accompanied driving from age 17’, young people can take their driving tests earlier and also drive earlier. However, until they reach 18, they are only allowed to drive when accompanied. This has to be entered into the driving test certificate and aims to encourage young people to adopt a safer style of driving. Young people gain more routine skills and confidence, and above all the thing they need more than ever in addition to solid training at the driving school: real experience in traffic and on the roads.
Klaus Kleinherbers: “Young drivers are particularly often involved in accidents. The most common reasons are excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol. Accompanied driving raises the sense of responsibility and encourages considerate behaviour on the roads. This is an important reason for TÜV NORD’s strong commitment to making this model trial part of regular road traffic legislation.”
The figures now published by TÜV NORD clearly show that the ‘driving licence at age 17’ has developed into a real winner with young people. In Northern Germany, 45.8% of those wishing to acquire a driving licence make use of the BF 17 scheme. Last year, it was 43.2 %. In Lower Saxony, where a similar model trial has been running since 2004, the number is as high as 48.4 % and is also continuing to rise (last year 46.1 %).
Since the beginning of 2011, ‘accompanied driving’ has been a so-called ‘perpetual right’ throughout the whole of Germany. Participation in ‘accompanied driving’ is voluntary and must be applied for separately. However, the minimum driving age of 18 remains the normal case.
Only those who are at least 30 years old and have held a valid Class B (or 3) driving licence for at least five years are allowed to accompany younger drivers within the meaning of the scheme. An additional condition is that they may not have more than three penalty points recorded in the central driving register in Flensburg.
About the TÜV NORD Group
With over 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD Group is one of the largest technical service providers, offering its advisory, service and inspection expertise in over 70 countries throughout the world. Areas of activity include Industry Services, Mobility and Education and Training. TÜV NORD Group occupies a unique position in the sector based on its work in the fields of raw materials and aerospace and is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: “Making our world safer”.
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Contact for this press release:
TÜV NORD Gruppe
Rainer Camen
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