Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Section 2: Compulsory initial qualification provided for in Article 3(1)(a)

2.1. Option combining both course attendance and a test

Initial qualification must include the teaching of all subjects in the list under section 1. The duration of this initial qualification must be 280 hours.

Each trainee driver must drive for at least 20 hours individually in a vehicle of the category concerned which meets at least the requirements for test vehicles as defined in Directive 91/439/EEC.

When driving individually, the trainee driver must be accompanied by an instructor, employed by an approved training centre. Each driver may drive for a maximum of eight hours of the 20 hours of individual driving on special terrain or on a top-of-the-range simulator so as to assess training in rational driving based on safety regulations, in particular with regard to vehicle handling in different road conditions and the way they change with different atmospheric conditions and the time of day or night.

For the drivers referred to in Article 5(5) the length of the initial qualification must be 70 hours, including five hours of individual driving.

At the end of that training, Member States' competent authorities or the entity designated by them shall give the driver a written or oral test. The test must include at least one question on each of the objectives in the list of subjects under section 1.

2.2. Option involving a test

Member States' competent authorities or the entity designated by them shall organise the aforementioned theoretical and practical tests to check whether the trainee driver has the level of knowledge required in section 1 for the subjects and objectives listed there.

(a)

The theoretical test shall consist of at least two parts:

(i)

questions including multiple-choice questions, questions requiring a direct answer, or a combination of both;

(ii)

case studies.

The minimum duration of the theoretical test must be four hours.

(b)

The practical test shall consist of two parts:

(i)

a driving test aimed at assessing training in rational driving based on safety regulations. The test must take place, whenever possible, on roads outside built-up areas, on fast roads and on motorways (or similar), and on all kinds of urban highways presenting the different types of difficulties that a driver is liable to encounter. It would be desirable for this test to take place in different traffic density conditions. The driving time on the road must be used optimally in order to assess the candidate in all traffic areas likely to be encountered. The minimum duration of this test must be 90 minutes;

(ii)

a practical test covering at least points 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.5.

The minimum duration of this test must be 30 minutes.

The vehicle used for the practical test must meet at least the requirements for test vehicles as defined in Directive 91/439/EEC.

The practical test may be supplemented by a third test taking place on special terrain or on a top-of-the-range simulator so as to assess training in rational driving based on safety regulations, in particular with regard to vehicle handling in different road conditions and the way they change with different atmospheric conditions and the time of day or night.

The duration of this optional test is not fixed. Should the driver undergo such a test, its duration may be deducted from the 90 minutes of the driving test referred to under (i), but the time deducted may not exceed 30 minutes.

For the drivers referred to in Article 5(5), the theoretical test must be limited to the subjects, referred to in section 1, which are relevant to the vehicles to which the new initial qualification applies. However, such drivers must undergo the whole practical test.