Getting a driver’s license in Germany vs. U.S

[einflinkeswiesel]

In the US the license says that you are allowed to drive
In Germany the license says that you are able to drive

[trooperscientists]

I like how he only listed the mandatory driving lessons and forgot to mention that usually you have 3-10 lessons before/ in between, where you get used to driving and only after they permit you for the needed lesson.

[akaBodi]

You have forgot the 5 hours of "Überlandfahrten"

[spakkx]

It also takes 3 years to train a police dog in germany, while in the US u can become a police officer in 6 months or less!

[naomif]

I still felt very incompetent after getting my German driver's license. Can't imagine how Americans must feel. Especially if they get it at like 16 years old

[thejulinks]

In Austria once you have you driving licenese, you're actually not even done. During the first year after you have passed your practical exam, you need to do two further "Perfektionsfahrten" which are essentially just check up lessons. Also you need to do a dedicated driving security training at a special facility. That part was actually a lot of fun for me. You basically have a controlled environment in which you are instructed to test your driving and reactions, like emergency stops from 50 or 70 kph, braking only using the parking brake, how to react to over and under steer etc. I really enjoyed that and the lessons I learnt have helped me in some tricky situations

[Ex_]

In addition to this the German driver's licence costs a small fortune 😅

[elizabethbennet]

traffic accident related death rate per capita is more than 3 times higher in the USA too.... I wonder if there is a connection

[jonesman]

Roads/Autobahn that are mostly in good conditions
Strict regulations for cars
A driving license that tries to cover most situatens.

Thats why we are allowed to drive 300 on the Autobahn and still have less death then the US

[danielsempere]

It's 14 sessions theory... Every session is 90 minutes

Edit:
Fun fact: the possibilities with the driving licence are quit Limited. If you wanna tow a trailer, which is quit heavy, you need a extra license. There are two licences for trailers. Both quite limited too.

If you want to drive a car, a powerful and fast motorbike and tow a heavy trailer up to 3.5 tons, the costs of the licences can cost you somewhere around 5000 to 9000 USD...

In Germany, there are a total of 17 driver's license classes that you can acquire. These are divided into the categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E, T, L, and FzF (license for passenger transportation). Here's an overview:

Two-Wheeler Classes

AM: Mopeds (e.g., scooters) up to 50 cm³ and 45 km/h.

A1: Light motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and a maximum of 15 hp.

A2: Motorcycles with a maximum of 35 kW (48 hp).

A: Unlimited, for all motorcycles.


Cars and Light Trailers

B: Cars up to 3.5 tons.

BE: Cars with trailers over 750 kg (maximum total weight of 3.5 tons).


Trucks and Heavy Trailers

C1: Trucks between 3.5 and 7.5 tons.

C1E: Trucks between 3.5 and 7.5 tons with a trailer.

C: Trucks over 3.5 tons.

CE: Trucks over 3.5 tons with a trailer.


Buses

D1: Small buses (up to 16 passengers and a maximum of 8 meters in length).

D1E: Small buses with a trailer.

D: Buses with more than 16 passengers.

DE: Buses with a trailer.


Agricultural Vehicles

L: Agricultural and forestry vehicles up to 40 km/h.

T: Tractors and self-propelled machines up to 60 km/h.


Additionally, there are special permits like the license for passenger transportation (FzF) for taxis or ambulances.

This means you could theoretically acquire all 17 classes, provided you meet the necessary requirements.

[wildwaters]

Don’t forget the basic driving tasks you have to perform like emergency breaking, (parallel) parking and three point turn. If you fail any of those you fail your driving test

[CaynesDub]

you also failed to mention the 4000€ price tag a Führerschein will cost you. It's like having a short visit to the hospital in the States

[psydhant]

Come to India, you will get a license for your dog too if you have the money or connections. Road safety is a joke here.

[Atheist_InScienceWeTrust]

Don´t forget it only costs around 3000 € upwards.

[ReadDeadRedemption_]

It took me 1 YEAR to be able to have my final test. Over 1 year actually and 3.5 k. And you know what, I failed...I have a new appointment in 6 days and I could cry. Wish me luck 😭

[RicPendragon]

I remember getting my motorcycle license, we had a group thing, and we had to prove knowledge of the Highway code, so we were asked to identify signs. One was a No Entry/One-Way sign...one of the people in the group said "Stop sign?" ....instructors corrected him and said "It's fine, you'll learn as you got his license at the end of the day...

[fruzsimih]

I live in Austria, which is pretty similar to Germany regarding driver's licences. I spent a year and hundreds of dollars worth of schillings on it. My sister did her licence while on a highschool year in the US. She had it in no time and it cost 16 dollars... (That was in the 1990s.)

[wakeupcall]

Hahaha!

I drove my dad‘s car in and out of the driveway from the age of about 14. Back and forth, reversed, turning forward into the garage, reversed into the garage.

When it was time for my license, I took the minimum required driving lessons, and the mandatory six weeks of theoretical classroom lessons. And then I sailed through the exam day, and got my (grey) drivers license right after the driving test. That was in April 1986! And of course with a car equipped with a manual gear box.

I drove all the way down to Italy in 1987, through Rome and Naples, and all over Europe, rented cars in the US several times. I love driving.

When I watch videos like the channel „Idiots in Cars“, which mainly shows mostly avoidable car crashes in the US, and compare it with driving culture in Europe, you see the lack of training in the US.
But then again, the US individual mobility infrastructure is based around cars, excludes pedestrians and has serious flaws.
It is worth to check out the channel „Not Just Bikes“. Super interesting, how he compared the road network in the US and Europe/Netherlands. Brilliant!

[RudolfMaister]

Honestly the EU drivers are much more disciplined and predictable than North American, even outside Germany.

[Dalmoon]

Besides the cost people are talking about, this sounds really good honestly. Id be happy to go through all of this if it meant i could deeply learn to drive well 😅