Ensuring 'real learning, real testing' in car driving training and testing

Learning to drive a car is getting harder and harder.

Currently, with the new regulations applied under Circular No. 04/2022/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport, thedriver training and testingwill be increasingly strict. For example, in addition to monitoring the driving lessons of both theory and practice of students using fingerprint attendance devices, students must ensure that they have enough hours of study. For example, for automatic B1 class, the practice on the road must be 710 km, for manual B1 and B2 class, it must be 810 km, and the road practice for C class learners must be 825 km. During the whole learning process, students are closely monitored, and the camera automatically takes pictures of them every 5 minutes...

Staff of the PTS Driver Training and Testing Center supervise the driving learning process on the road. Photo: D.C.

When the practical driving course on a simulated cabin is included in the curriculum at driving training centers, with the requirement of practical driving content, driving practice on a simulated cabin (minimum 3 hours), then when taking the exam, students will have to take a test simulating traffic situations on the computer. Ms. Tran Thi Lan, residing in Nghi Kim commune (Vinh city) said: I am planning to register for a B1 driver's license to drive my family car to take and pick up my children to school. However, when referring to the simulation learning and test part, I am really confused because it requires very high reaction and skills.

Students at PTS Driver Training and Testing Center learn to drive in a simulated cabin. Photo: D.C.

Along with the more difficult learning and testing part, the cost of driving lessons is also an issue that many people are concerned about. For example, searching for a driving training facility online and calling to ask for information to choose to register for a driving license, Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, residing in Yen Thanh district, was surprised when the cost of a B2 driving license course was over 14 million VND. Meanwhile, near the end of 2022, his relative only spent 8 million VND to study.

Theory class at the Road Transport Vocational Training Center, under Automobile Transport Joint Stock Company No. 5. Photo: D.C.

According to many people, the cost to complete the course and get a driver's license at driving training centers in the province is currently increasing. Accordingly, the cost of a B1 and B2 driving course is over 14 million VND and a C course is nearly 18 million VND. This figure is 6-7 million VND higher than before 2023. In addition, if the learner is slow to learn, the fee may be higher due to extra hours and additional fees.

Ensure "real learning, real testing"

According to the centers, with the new regulations applied under Circular No. 04/2022/TT-BGTVT, training and testing will be increasingly strict, people granted a driving license must have a thorough understanding of traffic laws as well as the necessary skills when driving a vehicle. Specifically, after the study period, students must pass 4 exams: Theory, simulation exam, comprehensive exam and road driving test. When passing all of the above exams, students will be recognized as having passed and granted a driving license according to the class they registered for.

In the 4 above mentioned exams, if before students were most afraid of the comprehensive exam, now there is a simulation exam. The simulation exam is also somewhat difficult, especially for those who are not proficient in technology, the elderly, so if before the average passing rate was over 80%, now it is only over 70%.

Students learn to drive in a simulated cabin at the Road Transport Vocational Training Center, belonging to Automobile Transport Joint Stock Company No. 5. Photo: D.C.

Regarding the increased cost compared to before, according to Mr. Tran Trung Thanh - Director of PTS Driver Training and Testing Center, to ensure compliance with regulations, the center has equipped and put into use 2 simulation cabins, simulation test rooms, along with equipment to monitor the time and distance of students' driving lessons on the road (DAT) with a total cost of billions of VND... With the investment in these equipment, the tuition fee has increased accordingly. Currently, from March 1, 2023, the cost of car driving training at the center, including tuition and fees, is as follows: Class B1 automatic transmission is 14,150,000 VND; Class B1 manual transmission is 14,450,000 VND; Class B2 is 14,660,000 VND; Class C is 17,765,000 VND.

This is also the common price of 9 driving training centers in the province at present. Mr. Le An Trung - Director of the Road Transport Vocational Training Center, under the No. 5 Automobile Transport Joint Stock Company, said: Driving training fees have increased due to the need to invest in, equip and maintain driving cabins, equipment to monitor the time and distance of students' practice on the road in accordance with Circular 04 amending Circular 12 of the Ministry of Transport on training, testing and granting of road motor vehicle driving licenses.

The test of stopping and starting on a slope is part of the comprehensive test, one of the difficult contents for students. Photo: D.C.

According to the provisions of Circular 04/2022/TT-BGTVT amending Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT on training, testing, and granting of road motor vehicle driving licenses, all 9 centers in the province have equipped and put into use car driving training cabins, devices to monitor students' driving time and distance on the road... Investing in such equipment is not beyond the goal of serving the training and testing work more systematically and of course students will find it more difficult.

The increase in training and testing costs comes from the fact that centers have to invest in equipment. For example, each cabin costs over 400 million VND, which training facilities purchase to equip and include in the training process according to regulations to innovate the theoretical and practical testing work, which is one of the reasons why the cost of teaching a driver's license is currently higher than before. However, according to a preliminary survey of neighboring areas, Nghe An has a lower price. It is worth noting that tuition and fees at centers in the province are all publicly listed, to create transparency in revenue.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan - Head of Vehicle and Driver Management Department, Nghe An Department of Transport.

It can be seen that the learning and testing part is more difficult and the cost is higher. According to research at driving training and testing centers, only those who really need to learn are now studying, there is no longer a mass learning situation like before. This is also the reason why the number of students registering to study at the centers is now less. For example, at PTS Driving Training and Testing Center, if in the past, students had to register for 1.5 years to have a class to study, now the longest is only 3 months.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan added that, along with implementing Circular No. 04/2022/TT-BGTVT, in addition to monitoring devices during the learning, testing, and assessment process, Nghe An Department of Transport regularly inspects and promptly corrects to ensure the criteria of "real learning, real testing". With the goal that people granted a driving license must ensure a thorough understanding of traffic laws as well as the necessary skills when driving a vehicle, contributing to reducing traffic accidents./.