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

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

[F1 2.1. Option combining both course attendance and a test U.K.

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 set out in Directive 2006/126/EC.

When driving individually, the trainee driver must be accompanied by an instructor, employed by an approved training centre. Each trainee 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, the time of day or night, and the ability to optimise fuel consumption.

Member States may allow part of the training to be delivered by the approved training centre by means of ICT tools, such as e-learning, while ensuring that the high quality and the effectiveness of the training are maintained, and by selecting the subjects where ICT tools can most effectively be deployed. In particular Member States shall require reliable user identification and appropriate means of control. Member States may count specific training required under other Union legislation as part of the training. This includes, but is not restricted to, training required under Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) for the transport of dangerous goods, training on disability awareness under Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and training on animal transport under Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 (3) .

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.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2018/645 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance).

2.2. Option involving a test U.K.

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.

[F1 The vehicle used for the practical test must meet at least the requirements for test vehicles set out in Directive 2006/126/EC.]

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.

(1)

[F1 Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods ( OJ L 260, 30.9.2008, p. 13 ).]

(2)

[F1 Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 ( OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 1 ).]

(3)

[F1 Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 ( OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1 ).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2018/645 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance).