CAR DRIVER TRAINING AND LICENSING SYSTEMS IN EUROPE. REPORT ON BEHALF OF FORUM OF EUROPEAN ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTES (FERSI) AND SUPPORTED BY EUROPEAN COMMISSION TRANSPORT DIRECTORATE (DG VII)

This report describes a survey of car driver training and licensing systems in European countries, undertaken by the Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes (FERSI) supported by the Transport Directorate of the European Union. A literature review and collation of general information on systems was supplemented by in-depth study of the practice in three countries - France, Britain, and Germany. The study concluded that there was no evidence that the differences in the national systems produced major differences at the level of national casualty totals. There is a general need to improve training techniques to include more emphasis on cognitive skills, to ensure that instructors are equipped to provide this training, and that the testing process ensure its objects are achieved. (A)