New driving test launches today
Test awards marks for courteous and fuel-efficient driving and is designed to improve pass rates and cut waiting times
A NEW simpler driving test comes into force today in four regions - with other parts of France switching over by the end of May.
The 35-minute practical test is designed to give examiners more freedom to decide on a driver's competence, with less emphasis on simply totting up errors.
As well as deducting marks for mistakes, examiners can add marks if the driver is courteous behind the wheel and drives in a fuel-efficient way. Candidates will need to score 20 out of 30 to pass.
The Centre, Poitou-Charentes, Pays-de-la-Loire and Haute-Normandie will start offering the new test from this morning. It will be extended to the other regions of France in small groups between now and May 3
The marks are split in three categories: understanding the road, knowing and controlling your vehicle and sharing the road with other users.
Drivers can still be automatically failed if they commit a big error such as forgetting to stop at a red light or a white junction line.
The new test also comes with a five-minute "autonomous driving" section where the candidate is given a destination to head towards but no precise commands from the examiner on which directions to turn.
Driving instructors say the new test should make it easier for candidates to pass and will help bring down the average waiting time for a test from five months to three-and-a-half months.
According to new figures, 255 people killed on French roads in February, down 15% on the same month last year. Road safety officials say this is the lowest monthly total ever recorded.
Camille JOSSE - Fotolia.com
