From: lilly@nhmfl.fsu.edu (Leonhard Lilly)
Subject: Re: Minimum driving age?
Organization: Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee
	32306, USA
Date: 22 Jan 93 01:27:43


In article <16B5DFB40.BIOSEE@UKCC.UKY.EDU> BIOSEE@UKCC.UKY.EDU (Stephanie Edelmann) writes:
>In article <C181uq.17x@inews.Intel.COM>
>jreece@sousa.intel.com (John Reece) writes:
>
>>
>>What's the minimum age to get a driver's license in Germany?  Do
>
>The minimum driving age is 18 yo.  However, a friend of mine
>(in a german Bar - I'm not sure how reliable that was) told me once
>that he got his licence at 16.  He said that he had a blind mother,
>his father was dead, and he had to drive his Mom around quite a bit.
>He said, he had to pass an "Idiotentest" at 16 and was allowed to
>drive (only with his Mom in the car)

Yes, there are quite some exceptions. E.g. young farmers usually get an
early permit to drive tractors on public roads etc...
>
>>teenagers have to attend a formal driving school, or is their
>>a "learner's permit" like California where they can be taught by
>>having a licensed driver ride along.  Also, I understand that there's
>>a large license fee on top of any costs for driving school.
>>
>>
>Yes, you do have to attend driving school.  There is a minimum number
>of hours of practical training you have to attend.  (Was that 16?)
>Most people that I went to school with needed between 18-22 hours.
>(Our class geek took 50!!!! hours) The practical training includes
>a minimum of 6 hours on a stick shift, 1 hour night drive, 1 hour
>autobahn and I don't know what else. 
I seem to remember that these minimum hours were increased a couple of
years ago. Essentially because the driving schools were having a hard
time with the effects of declining birth rates in the early seventies
--- and of course to increase the safety! :-) 
>				      We were also required to attend
>12 hours of theoretical training.  While the practical training cost
>$30/ hour (This was 10 years ago - am I really THAT old?) and the
>practical training was free. 
 ^^^^^^^^^
should read: theoretical 
>			      There was a fee for the test, but I
>don't remember what it was.  The theoretical test is also somewhat
>more difficult than the theoretical test here (at least in Kentucky)
>I had to take the theoretical test, not the practical test in order
>to get an american drivers license.
>By the way, the driving test not administered by the police.  Don't
>know who actually does do it, though.  (TUEV comes to mind, but that
>doesn't seem right).
But it is right! (Maybe some TUeV-like organizations are also involved.)
The Idea is that the driving test is (at least historically) a test that
you can safely operate the machinery involved.

In my youth (early 80's) the typical overall costs for a license were 
DM 1000.-- (+ - couple DM 100.--), by now I would guess you are lucky if
you manage to get the license under DM 1500.-- (exceptions excluded
:-) ).

Also, for a couple of years now, the "kids" get the "Fuehrerschein auf
Probe" ("trial" license). If you commit a major trafic violation within
the first 2 (?) years, you have to take some extra lessons etc.    
>
>Stephanie
>>--
>>John Reece                      "This lifeboat is full"
>>Not an Intel spokesman

	Leo

PS: I have a question of my own: Does anyone (preferred German) have any
experience with transferring US driving licenses into German licenses
(i.e. motorcycle, trucks etc.)?? Might save a bundle, if possible!

--
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Leonhard Lilly                     Internet:  lilly@theory.nhmfl.fsu.edu
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