From November 1, 2011, you have the option to obtain a driver’s license at the age of 17. You can start taking lessons when you are 16. All this is just an experiment, but if it works, this scheme will be permanently introduced in the Netherlands. Getting your driving license at the age of 17 has been possible since November 1, 2011. When you are 16 you can take your theory exam. You can start driving lessons at 16.5. You can get your driver’s license at the age of 17 and you can only drive under supervision until the age of 18. If this project is successful, there will be discussions in parliament about definitively introducing this scheme. The trial will certainly continue until 2015.
Accompaniment
Not everyone can just be your companion while driving. You must have a supervisor’s pass and a maximum of five people may be listed on it who can be your companion. These must have sufficient driving experience and be adults. These could be your parents, for example. If you are caught without supervision at the age of 17, you can immediately hand in your driver’s license and you can start again from the age of 18, both theory and practice. You can find more information on the website www.2todrive.nl and you can also apply for the supervisor pass there.
Why this change?
Why is this now being tested in the Netherlands? The reason for this is that several countries abroad already have such a scheme and it seems to work against the high number of accidents among young people. Although young people only make up a small proportion of all road users, they are involved in more than 20% of all accidents. Young people do not yet have sufficient driving experience and sometimes drive around irresponsibly. The plan is to let young people get their driver’s license earlier so that they can drive under supervision for about a year and thus gain experience with an experienced person next to them.
Abroad
It is of course already known that in America you can drive a car at the age of 16, but there are other countries like this. Take Germany for example, a similar arrangement applies there and it seems to work very well. In Germany, accompanied driving has been introduced since 2005. There, young people commit 20% fewer violations and cause 30% fewer accidents.
Fact: The driver’s license you obtain at the age of 17 is not valid abroad. This only becomes valid from the age of 18.
Once you have obtained your driver’s license, you must make sure that the car you are driving is properly insured and that the insurance company is aware that this vehicle is driven by a 17-year-old. Current car insurance does not take this into account. If you comply with the rules of 2toDrive and the owner of the vehicle is aware of the use, it is not a problem. Then this car is simply insured if a 17-year-old driver drives it.