Practice is the criterion of truth: drivers will be taught how to drive on carpool
Starting next spring, future motorists will be taught in a new way. This is provided for by the accepted methods of driver training in driving schools. They involve an increase in practical training, introduce additional requirements for distance learning, and also provide an opportunity to take driving classes not at the driving school itself, but at car companies. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
To retrain is not to learn
Russia has adopted a new edition of the "Sample professional training programs for drivers of vehicles of relevant categories and subcategories." The relevant order of the Ministry of Education has been registered with the Ministry of Justice and published on the official Internet portal of legal information. According to this document, from March 1, 2026, instead of the current 62 training programs, only 47 will operate. Some of the training programs are being transformed into retraining programs.
This will affect those who already have a driver's license, but want to open an additional category. For example, you can get category "E" rights that allow you to drive a road train with a trailer (both in a passenger car and a truck) or category "D" to drive a bus, for which, according to the Law on Road Safety, at least three years of experience in categories "B" or "C" is required. years old. According to the current rules, in these and other similar cases (for example, a driver with a "passenger car" license decided to learn how to drive a truck), the candidate had to re-take a full course in theory, with the basics of traffic regulations and other basic subjects that he had already studied before.
Starting next spring, this will be considered retraining and you will not have to study what you have already completed in a theoretical course for the second or third time. Depending on the additional category of driver's license chosen, the candidate will only have to attend a course of lectures directly related to the specifics of driving the appropriate type of transport. However, the theory exam will have to be taken in accordance with the tickets belonging to the required category of rights.
Another change concerning theory is related to the possibility of distance learning. It remains, but driving schools will need to meet certain conditions, including for their equipment where classes are held, in order to monitor the attendance of candidates for drivers of such classes. The programs will also have additional sections on dangerous driving, SIM cards, electronic documents, the use of retroreflective vests, etc.
There are also innovations in practical exercises. Firstly, the number of driving hours is increasing. For example, for category "B" (passenger cars), the number of hours increases from 56 to 58 for training in "mechanics" and from 54 to 56 for those who chose "automatic". In addition, the new programs introduce the possibility of conducting "practice" training not only in driving schools themselves, but also at carpool sites, bus and taxi fleets, and transport companies. This will allow future drivers not only to get the basics of driving a particular type of transport, but also to better understand the features of riding it and learn additional nuances.
Initially, these changes were supposed to take effect on September 1, but recently the Ministry of Education postponed them for six months.
No repetitions
Experts and representatives of driving schools interviewed by Izvestia called the new training rules modern and relevant. It is important that training is now separated from retraining, they emphasize.
— The principle of "repetition is the mother of learning" is certainly good. But why would a person who already has a certain category of license, who drives, tell you about traffic lights or road signs all over again? It was quite right that they decided to abandon this "double". A driver who already has the necessary experience and experience should simply be told about the specifics of the category that he intends to add to his existing rights," said Igor Morzharetto, a member of the presidium of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Maxim Kadakov, the editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine, agrees with him. Traffic regulations are a single law for all drivers, and its basic norms are the same for the driver of a car, as for the driver of a truck or bus.
— It is clear that there are certain features for trucks or nuances related to the transportation of passengers. But they also need to teach a person who has decided to get additional categories, and not force him, relatively speaking, to re—learn the alphabet, - says the editor-in-chief of Za Rulem.
With an emphasis on practice
The changes in the training programs are spot—on, but very important, said Tatiana Shutyleva, President of the Interregional Association of Driving Schools. According to her, they meet modern trends, and they have a foundation for the future.
— Even in theory classes, the emphasis is on the practical component, not on cramming. The same rules for the registration of a European protocol include not only a story about what it is and under what conditions it is possible, but also practical exercises on drafting documents for simplified registration of an accident. The theoretical course also includes classes on new types of transport like SIM, modern electronic assistants and driver assistants, with special attention paid to safety issues when transporting children," she told Izvestia.
Shutyleva separately assessed the separation of education and retraining. According to her, this will allow educational institutions to quickly form appropriate groups of those who are going to open an additional category of rights. As a result, this may lead, if not to a reduction in the cost of training, then, at least, it will allow for some time to keep prices for driving school services at the current level, she believes.
How to get on the tram
The possibility of learning practical exercises not only in driving schools, but also in transport organizations, fixed in the new rules— is a serious step forward, Tatiana Shutyleva notes. In fact, she is expanding the existing practice of training trolleybus and tram drivers to other categories of driver's licenses, she notes.
— Currently, the practice for obtaining driver's licenses for tram and trolleybus management takes place at the bases of tram depots and trolleybus fleets. And it is obvious that people who have studied in these categories go to work where they were trained. This practice will be extended to other categories of rights. By signing an agreement with a driving school, a car company will be able to train its future staff," Tatyana Shutyleva told Izvestia.
According to Maxim Kadakov, the opportunity to complete training at the enterprise will be in demand primarily for "cargo", "bus" and "trailer" categories of rights. In this case, car depots may even partially or completely take over the tuition fees, provided that the driver who has received his license will continue to work for them, the expert believes. But for "motorcycle" and "passenger car" rights, such a practice is unlikely to be widespread, he believes.
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