After Traffic Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) presented new reform points for the driver‑licence system on Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Association of Driving‑School Associations (BVF) responded with sharp criticism.
“We find the reform proposal absolutely appalling” said Kurt Bartels, vice‑chair of the BVF, citing a Thursday edition of the “Rheinische Post”. “We see it as a massive attack on road safety”. Bartels continued: “The German system is built around safety, and Mr Schnieder is literally erasing that foundation”.
Among the changes Schnieder proposed is that learners could acquire the material for the theoretical exam not only in face‑to‑face classes but also through digital platforms, such as learning apps. Bartels countered that many topics can only be taught effectively in person. “During the pandemic we already learned that distance learning does not lead to better results-in fact, the opposite is true” he said. “It isn’t possible to save money this way. These are purely political statements that ignore reality”.