As nearly half of candidates fail their practical driving test, Luxembourg's driving instructors are calling for reforms to the outdated licensing system, arguing that current training requirements are insufficient for today's traffic complexity and safety standards.
The current system for obtaining a driving licence in Luxembourg is increasingly under scrutiny. The driving instructors' association believes one of the key issues is that the mandatory 16 hours of practical lessons are no longer sufficient to adequately prepare candidates.
The question of whether the current driving licence system is still up to date resurfaces time and again. More than 46% of candidates failed their practical test for a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle last year. This trend is attributed to increasingly complex traffic situations, language barriers, and outdated training structures – and driving schools are now calling for concrete changes.
From empty roads to turbo roundabouts
During the midday traffic in Hesperange – one of the rare times in the day when learners can actually practise driving instead of being stuck in traffic – Tom Wagner, a driving instructor with 23 years of experience, takes a student out on the road. Speaking to RTL, Wagner reflected on how much the job has changed.
He explains that, only two decades ago, the environment was far more relaxed, with significantly fewer vehicles on the road. Today's conditions make it far more difficult for young people to learn to drive, he states.
Wagner explains further that in previous generations, learners did not have to navigate roundabouts – now they must contend with turbo roundabouts and much heavier traffic. For someone who's never driven before, this presents a major challenge, Wagner noted.
The increasing complexity of driving is just one factor contributing to the failure rate. Wagner also points out that many people arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to take the practical test directly, without completing any Luxembourg-specific theory or driving lessons.
As a result, they are often unfamiliar with the Grand Duchy's driving code and fail the test, yet their results are still included in the statistics.
Meanwhile, the number of serious road accidents has also increased – by 31% between 2010 and 2023, with 336 such accidents recorded two years ago. The Ministry of Mobility and Public Works sees better and more modern driver training as one way to counter this trend.
Reforms on the horizon
In response to a parliamentary question from MP Sven Clement of the Pirate Party (Piratepartei), Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes recently explained that Luxembourg is currently awaiting a new EU directive, which is expected to propose reforms to the training process. The goal is to ensure that candidates are better prepared for today's realities, and that new challenges on the road are adequately addressed through updated teaching methods, she stated.
Currently, learner drivers must complete a minimum of 16 hours of practical lessons before being eligible to take the driving test, a requirement that has not changed in over 30 years. The instructors' association argues that this is no longer sufficient and are calling for updates, including the creation of dedicated training car parks.
Wagner explains that instructors are often forced to conduct early driving lessons in public car parks or residential areas. These locations are not ideal, as usage time is uncertain, and residents sometimes ask instructors to leave, claiming that they are causing disruption.
This means that first driving experiences often take place in live traffic, something Wagner believes is no longer appropriate. He points out that in countries like Germany, designated training areas for learner drivers are already the norm.
As for criticism that more mandatory lessons would simply generate extra revenue for driving schools, the drivers' association strongly refutes this. Most driving schools in Luxembourg are already fully booked, and instructors are limited to working nine hours a day. Furthermore, recruiting new staff remains a challenge across the sector.
