This report describes the recommendations the experts arrived at during two workshops, which have been organised within the framework of a project entitled "Comparative analysis and practical guide on driver licensing in the European Union", as well as the discussions which preceded them. The workshop participants are experts, not political delegates and the recommendations therefore reflect their expert opinions. Directive 91/439/EEC served as a starting point for discussions on the contents. The points stipulated in this Directive have been analysed and restructured. Even though most countries now have a written theoretical test, the discussion on the form of the theoretical test did not result in any recommendations. The experts decided that the theoretical test should be a condition for access to the practical test and therefore should precede it. In order to allow candidates to review, there should be a minimum waiting period in between a theoretical test and a retest. CIECA will carry out further study regarding the possibility of a periodical theoretical test for specific groups, such as elderly and novice drivers. The validity of a theory certificate should not be longer than one year, because the theoretical and practical test should be as closely linked in time as possible. Furthermore, it was decided that each licence category should have its own theoretical test. The above-mentioned recommendations constitute minimum requirements, based on best practice solutions. This implies that countries can impose stricter requirements if their legislation demands this. (A)
Abstract