Unacceptable Delays: CDU Demands More Driving Instructors in Hamburg
CDU Urges Additional Traffic Management Personnel in Hamburg - CDU advocates for an increase in driving personnel in Hamburg
In a bid to address the mounting issue of expired driver's licenses due to missed deadlines, the CDU in Hamburg's parliament is advocating for an increase in driving instructors within the city. As per Philipp Heißner, the transport policy spokesperson for the CDU faction, more individuals in Hamburg are obtaining class B driver's licenses. However, many aspiring drivers are failing to pass the practical examination, leading to substantial costs, often due to a scarcity of driving instructors in the city.
The practical exam must be completed within a year of passing the theoretical exam; otherwise, it becomes invalid.
Over 600 Driver's License Aspirants Failed Due to Timeouts in 2024
According to a Senate reply to the CDU's minor inquiry, a staggering 666 driver's license candidates had their successfully completed theoretical exams expire in 2024 as they failed to complete the practical examination within the allocated year. The cause behind these delays remains undisclosed. Notably, the Senate was unable to provide information on the waiting duration for a practical examination appointment, as driving schools typically register their students directly for the exams, and the appointments are allotted to the schools in batches.
Rising Number of Driver's License Exams
Last year, the Senate reported that 16,888 individuals obtained their driver's license (class B) in Hamburg, marking a 17% increase compared to 2020. Simultaneously, the number of driving examiners increased by approximately 24%, rising from 33 to 41 during the same period. Nevertheless, the CDU faction's motion, set for discussion on Wednesday, asserts that this increase falls short of addressing the escalating demand and high absence rates (an average of 21 days per examiner per year, according to the Senate).
"It's absolutely unacceptable that the red-green Senate is making an already costly driver's license even more burdensome for would-be drivers," stated Heißner. In response, the CDU is proposing an increase in the number of driving examiners to at least 60 and reimbursing all costs incurred by students due to insufficient examiners.
- Driver's License Exam
- CDU
- Hamburg
- Parliament
- German Press Agency
Additional Insights
The issue of long waiting times for practical driving exams is not unique to Hamburg; it is also experienced in other European countries such as the UK, where the average waiting time has surged to around five months[4]. However, specific strategies for Hamburg have not been explicitly detailed beyond the demand for additional driving instructors, owing to the opacity surrounding the allocation of appointment schedules.
- In a call for action, the CDU in Hamburg's parliament proposes that the community policy should focus on increasing the number of driving instructors as a solution to the unacceptable delays in obtaining driver's licenses.
- As part of their vocational training program, driving instructors are in high demand, with the CDU advocating for a significant increase in the number of trained instructors to meet the escalating demand.
- The average processing time for a practical driving exam appointment remains undisclosed, contributing to the concern over increasing delays in obtaining driver's licenses in Hamburg.
- The German Press Agency reported that the CDU is proposing a substantial increase in the number of driving examiners to at least 60 and reimbursing all costs incurred by students due to insufficient examiners.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, the CDU's motion for additional driving instructors is set for discussion in the general news of Hamburg's parliament.
- Vocational training in the transportation industry, such as driving instructors, is experiencing high demand and needs attention due to the escalating delays and expired driver's licenses, which are affecting the finance and economics of the general public.
