The traffic light coalition wants to enable accompanied driving from the age of 16. However, driving license law lies at the EU level: the federal government campaigned for a model project there – but in vain.
The minimum age for accompanied driving in Germany will not be lowered to 16 for the time being. The Federal Ministry of Transport told the dpa news agency that European law does not currently allow the implementation of plans to acquire a car driving license at the age of 16.
The federal government made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP wanted to enable accompanied driving from the age of 16 instead of the previous age of 17 and had written the project into its coalition agreement. When it will be implemented is unclear. The hurdles lie at the EU level. The ministry told the dpa: “Since the framework for driving license law is regulated bindingly for all member states at the European level, Germany cannot unilaterally regulate a lowering of the minimum age at the national level.”
The ministry advocated model projects
According to its own information, the Federal Ministry of Transport initially advocated a model project with the European Commission – and referred to the “positive experiences with accompanied driving from the age of 17”. However, in a Commission draft of the EU driving license directive, this request was not complied with, it was now said.
You can get your driving license at the age of 16, but driving is only permitted from your 17th birthday under certain conditions. Accompanied driving has been possible nationwide since 2011. Young people up to the age of 18 are allowed to drive a car with an exception if they are accompanied by an accompanying person. Who is eligible will be specified by name when the test certificate is issued. Requirements also apply to the passenger, who must be at least 30 years old.
Less than half use driving from the age of 17
According to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, more than 241,000 young people under 18 got a driving license in 2022, significantly fewer than when it was introduced. According to the ADAC automobile club, less than half of those applying for a driving license are currently taking advantage of the opportunity to drive accompanied from the age of 17.
For the ADAC it is clear: “Getting a driver’s license at 17 was and is a win.” Young people who got behind the wheel at the age of 17 had a significantly lower risk of accidents than those who did not take advantage of the accompanying phase.
Ampel wants to stick to its plans
According to dpa, the rapporteur for the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Mathias Stein, who is responsible for traffic safety, also referred to such statistics. There is a pleasing increase in road safety, he said. The traffic light coalition therefore considers the goal of accompanied driving at 16 to be “politically correct”. But: With this wish, Germany represents a niche opinion, says Stein. “For most other EU countries, the concept of ‘accompanied driving at 17’ is still new and is therefore viewed critically.”
According to the ADAC, in addition to the beginner risk, young people are exposed to “driving situations typical of young people”, such as driving in groups. “That’s why it’s right that the learning period, i.e. the phase in which young drivers are not yet on the road alone, is extended.”