In Luxembourg, every second person tested is left without a driving licence

Luxembourg's Minister of Transport and Public Works, Yuriko Backes, has responded to a parliamentary request from MP Sven Clement by providing statistics on driving licence exams and the cost of obtaining them. The figures are worrying: in 2024, 46.8 per cent of candidates failed the practical test, meaning that only just over half - 53.2 per cent - passed.

As for the theoretical examination, the situation is much better: only 25.91 per cent of the 13,640 test takers failed, while 74.09 per cent passed. This shows that the practical stage is the main filter on the way to obtaining a licence.

The ministry notes several factors that explain the rise in the failure rate:

• Increasing complexity of the road situation: traffic is becoming more and more intense and requires quick adaptation;
• The increasing technological sophistication of cars: many new auxiliary systems (parking assistants, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping systems) make understanding and driving more difficult, especially for beginners;
• Lack of training: candidates often lack confidence behind the wheel and need more hours of practice.

This leads to the need for repeated lessons and retakes, which in turn increases the overall cost of a driving licence, especially when inflation and rising energy prices are taken into account.

Repeated lessons at driving schools and retakes make obtaining a licence noticeably more expensive. The Ministry recognises that one way to reduce costs is to improve the training of candidates. In this regard, a new European directive is expected to update the training programme and adapt it to new challenges.

In preparation for the new directive, the government is considering introducing simulations into the training process. However, this is not entirely straightforward: some candidates do not tolerate virtual reality well, complaining of dizziness and disorientation. Therefore, if simulators are to be introduced, they will not be a mandatory measure, but an additional option for those for whom this format is suitable.