People as young as 17 are allowed to drive a car for one year in the company of an experienced driver after receiving the appropriate training at a driving school and successfully passing the driving test. During this time, they gain experience in road traffic before driving on their own from the age of 18.
The scheme represents a promising independent approach to reducing the risk of accidents for young novice drivers. The background rationale is to reduce the high initial risk through more driving experience and more driving routine.
The requirements for participation in accompanied driving at 17 are described in more detail below:
Applicants
- must be at least 16 1/2 years old, the consent of the legal representatives - usually the parents - must be available,
- application must be made to the driving license authority (there must be no reservations there that speak against the fitness to drive),
- at least one accompanying person must be named.
The accompanying person
- must have reached the age of 30,
- must have held a valid class B driver's license for at least five years,
- must not have more than one point in the driving suitability register.
Necessary documents for the application
- Identity card or passport
- A photograph that complies with the passport regulations
- Vision test certificate (not older than two years)
- Proof of training in first aid
- The supplementary sheet Declaration of Participation in Accompanied Driving at 17, completed in full and signed by the applicant and all legal guardians (also available from the driving school).
- This declaration must also be accompanied by clearly legible copies of the ID card and driver's license (front and back) of all accompanying persons.