Driving test
A fitness test is required by law for all applicants for a driving license or for the renewal / extension of an existing driving license. The scope and, if necessary, the recurrence of the examination depends on the respective driving license class. The fitness to drive examination should not be confused with the medical-psychological examination .
Mandatory examinations
- EU law
According to Annex III of the current Driving License Directive 2006/126 / EC , the examinations are regulated as follows:
| Driving license class | physical examination | Examination of the eyesight |
|---|---|---|
| A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE, B1 | only in justified cases | upon issue or renewal |
| C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E | upon issue or renewal | upon issue or renewal |
- Regulations in Germany
In Germany, the necessary examinations are regulated by § 11 and § 12 of the Driving License Ordinance :
| Driving license class | physical examination | Examination of the eyesight |
|---|---|---|
| A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE, L, T | only in justified cases | when issued ("eye test", e.g. at the optician's ) |
| C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E | when granted or extended | upon granting or renewal (medical or ophthalmological) |
Scope of the investigations
The medical part includes the general examination of whether there are diseases associated with sudden disorders of consciousness ( epilepsy , diabetes mellitus , etc.). There should also be no paralysis and it should be possible to move all four extremities in a coordinated manner.
Even more important is the ophthalmological part, in which the eyesight and, above all, spatial vision are proven. This part is sometimes the higher hurdle for older people, because naturally the eyesight deteriorates with age.
In certain cases, a psycho-functional performance test is required in accordance with Appendix 5, Item 2 of the Driving License Ordinance. This test is intended to check the driver's particular suitability for transporting people, for which the resilience, orientation, concentration and attentiveness as well as the ability to react are measured. Bus drivers have to take this test regularly from the age of 50, taxi, rental car and ambulance drivers from the age of 60. This test sets the highest requirements of all German regulations for the issuing of driving licenses. The aim is to exclude drivers who are not (no longer) efficient from driving buses and other vehicles for passenger transport.
Different reasons
A driving test can also be arranged for other license holders by the driving license office, but not without good reason. Mostly it is likely to be abnormalities in accidents.
