Finland Times

 

Driving school student is getting training on driving. File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency-Trafi has proposed that the age limit for commencing driving practice should be lowered to 16 years.

 

According to Trafi, a young person under certain circumstances could be allowed to practice in traffic independently. 

 

The idea has been borne out of youth mobility needs in which the public transport cannot always be relied upon.

 

Currently, the age of beginning driving practice is set at 17.

 

The permission to begin driving practice would be preceded by a written test and the permit would not allow riding with friends or joyriding during the weekends, said the proposal. 

 

Furthermore, the permit would require supervision by either a parent or a driving school teacher.

 

“A tracking device could be installed in the car which would reflect the driving speed and dangerous situation. In addition, the speed limits could be set at 80 kilometres per hour and a white triangle like that currently used on driving school cars could be put on the car,” said Marko Sillanpää, the director general of Road Transport at Trafi.

 

According to Sillanpää, another issue is reform to the driving school teaching. “Compulsory hours of instructions should not all, rather instructions should be given in accordance with the needs of the student.” 

 

However, the Finnish Driving Schools’ Association is highly critical of the Trafi’s plan which would pave way for 16-year-olds to drive independently.

 

“I cannot understand this proposal. This has not really gone ahead of the safety peak,” said Jarmo Jokilampi, chair of the association.

 

Jokilampi also said nothing similar to the model proposed by Trafi does exist anywhere in the European Union countries.

 

The proposed change has also been met with traffic safety concerns. There is, however, no proposal on how the change would happen and what would be its significance.

 

“From the perspective of risk, I do not see it as a positive thing. A person develops between the ages of 16 and 18. There is a lot of risk-taking related with youths,” remarked Anna-Liisa Tarvainen, managing director of Liikenneturva, a road safety body.

 

Tarvainen believes there are also positive aspects for 16-year-olds practising driving, as it will lead to accumulation of a lot of mileage before getting a driving licence. On the other hand, the same is gained from riding moped.