To outline recent trends in driver examinations in Europe a literature survey and an interview mapping study was made in 1996, where the driver examination systems of Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and France were studied and compared with the Finnish system. The history of driving examinations starts in early 1900's. Today the driver examinations in most countries consist of a theory test and a driving test. The theory test must be passed before entering the driving test. The forms and principles of driver examinations have been renewed and improved in many European countries between 1985 and the early 1990's. The purpose has been to improve traffic safety and decrease the accident exposure of risk driver groups. The administration of driver examinations is generally in the hands of authorities that have in some cases delegated the task to authorised organisations. The activity is in general economically self-supporting. The connections between driver training and driver examinations vary from country to country. Because of the directives given by EU the forms and contents of driver examinations are homogenising in Europe, though there are definite national characteristics according to the history and traditions of the countries. The administrative side of the examens seems to have reached stabile forms, but the educational and social aspects of the examinations need to be studied more. (A)
Abstract