New era in driving tests: Real-traffic period begins

Comprehensive changes have been made to the driving test system for candidates wishing to obtain a driver's license. With the new regulation from the Ministry of National Education, the long-standing practice of using fixed test courses is being replaced by a new model aimed at measuring candidates' skills in real traffic conditions.

In the new system, instead of candidates memorizing a specific route to take the test, they are expected to drive in flowing traffic within city and district centers. Thus, driver candidates will be evaluated not only on their maneuvers on a test course but also on their decision-making, navigation, and safe driving skills in traffic.

WHAT WILL CHANGE IN THE NEW SYSTEM

With the regulation, the duration of the driving test has been increased from 35 minutes to 1 hour. It was also stated that the current 14-16 hour program applied for driving training will be increased to a minimum of 24 hours. The course layout is being changed to include free routes and parking maneuvers instead of fixed routes.

Mehmet Yılmaz, the founder of a driving school in Ankara, said that in the old system, candidates focused primarily on a designated course and parking between two cones. Stating that in the new era, candidates will perform parallel parking between real vehicles on the street, Yılmaz said, "Our candidate drivers will get behind the wheel in normal flowing traffic in city and district centers. The era of parking between two cones is over."

The new practice will not be limited to city driving. Candidates' ability to reach certain speeds on ring roads and their maneuvers for entering and exiting busy parking areas will also become part of the training and examination process.

The goal of the regulation is stated as training drivers who can drive without panicking in traffic and who have higher field control. The new driving test model is expected to be implemented gradually across the country.

News Source: 12punto