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The Ministry of Transport's public consultation proposes ending the mandatory 20 hours of theoretical and practical classes to obtain a driver's license, a measure that promises to reduce costs but raises warnings about risks to driver training and employment in the sector.
The federal government has launched a public consultation to discuss ending mandatory driving school classes for those seeking a National Driver's License (CNH). The proposal, authorized by the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and defended by the Minister of Transport, Renan Filho (MDB-AL), aims to allow the candidate to choose how to prepare for the theoretical and practical exams, eliminating the minimum requirement of 20 class hours.
According to the consultation text, the initiative seeks modernize the driver training system, guaranteeing more freedom and savings to future drivers. The government's central argument is reduction of up to 80% in the total cost of the CNH, which currently revolves around R $ 3,2 thousand, according to official estimates.
Change in rules and direct impact on consumers' pockets
The proposal suggests that candidates can prepare on their own or with independent instructors, without necessarily having to go through a training center. The theoretical and practical exams would remain, being the main criterion for evaluating the driver's qualifications.
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"The goal is modernize the licensing system, giving more freedom without compromising road safety”, states the public consultation statement published by Ministry of Transport. The agency adds that the change also aims to regularize the situation of 20 million Brazilians who drive without a license currently.
The information was released by Gazeta do Povo, who highlighted that the project is still in the analysis phase and could become a Bill (PL) if it advances in the National Congress.
Driving schools warn of risks and unemployment in the sector
CDD-KYC Entities representing the driver training sector criticized the proposal, saying it could affect the quality of training and jeopardize road safety. National Federation of Driving Schools of Brazil (Feneauto) released a statement in which it classifies the possible approval of the proposal as “a social disaster and a setback for road safety”.
The entity calculates that the change can generate the closure of 15 driver training centers and loss of 170 thousand jobs all over the country. Furthermore, he argues that eliminating mandatory classes would open a “critical gap” in the training of new drivers.
According to a Hermano Freitas, the proposal treats the process of learning to drive as something that can be acquired independently, ignoring the importance of standardized and monitored training. He adds that relying solely on the exam to certify a driver's aptitude would be a simplistic and risky view given the complexity of Brazilian traffic.
Public consultation and next steps in the National Congress
O Ministry of Transport will keep the public consultation open until 2 November, a period in which the population can send suggestions or criticisms of the proposal. The government is betting that the measure can democratize access to the CNH, reduce bureaucratic barriers and boost driver participation in a pre-election year.
However, sector entities emphasize that, despite the current model having high costs, it guarantees a minimum standard of training and contributes to reducing accidents and deaths on public roads. The final decision on implementing the proposal will depend on the analysis of the contributions received and its progress in the National Congress.
As Hermano Freitas highlighted, the debate on the CNH without driving school must balance the right to mobility and responsibility for road safety, two pillars that, according to him, cannot be treated in isolation.
And you, what do you think about the end of mandatory classes to get a driver's license?
Do you believe this measure can truly democratize access to driver's licenses, or do you believe it poses a risk to road safety and the quality of training for new drivers?
Can you imagine believing that a driving school owner cares about people's safety? LOL, this mafia only cares about sucking people's money.
Driving schools are a big mafia and pay instructors very poorly, which is the most fundamental part of getting a driver's license.
The first driving school I went to after renewing my license issued in 88, however, when I transferred from Santos to here, the motorcycle one disappeared, mine was (DA 3) because now I decided to renew it again, lowering my category and having to do the motorcycle one again. In this driving school the place for teaching is terrible (Armenia) with holes and old and high motorcycles.. I left it missing 4 classes, anyway I lost that money and thanks. I already knew how to drive well but a high motorcycle to do the tight parking without safety is complicated.. besides 88 onwards the Detran made it even more difficult with the completion of the much feared board that in the advice of Google itself asks to calm down look at infinity, accelerate little but correctly!! Ultimately, it's a matter of luck and emotional stability on the day of the test that most beginners don't have... another, all kinds of obstacles are imposed, an example is the exit of the cone where you have to enter directly without mental space in a left curve. I realized on the day of the exam that of so many, the majority burned out there exactly because they were surprised and didn't expect the short distance between the exit of the cone on the school track, you can even make the curve, but the distance to align the bike to the dreaded board is minimal; making with this insecurity complemented with more classes, obviously. If we burn in the test (everything burns) it's an extra 500 reais. I took the test and burned exactly at the exit of the cone and not on the board, which I knew was a matter of luck, as it was in school, sometimes I passed and sometimes I didn't. I spoke to the driving school saying that I will only be able to pay for another exam when I can pay off my loan that I had to take out after dropping out of the first driving school. I went to another one which, according to Google search, had a better training court, the bikes were lower and wow! with electric start. However, they are tall for me, who is 1:51 tall... anyone who drives a motorcycle knows that in everyday traffic, anyone can drive any engine size as long as they have at least 1 foot for stopping and the balance to support the curves when returning without forcing it and falling too much... this next driving school I chose had a lower motorcycle, but I would have to have special problems and a doctor's certificate to be able to restart my training with it. What you said sounds like a mafia to me...no driving school or DMV in our favor. At home, diluting my disappointment of failing, they did everything they do to fail but had a counter-test on the day of the test! At least to recognize the real DETRAN block, if you pass it the first time, it's fine; without the need for the second. Although for immature beginners in driving this would only destabilize. I could then take the test again as determined by the DMV without paying again. I saw many repeaters in the queue doing everything they could to pay for the re-test or already thinking about buying a motorcycle driver's license because they need to work honestly. Sad!! I ASK EVERYONE READING THIS TO SHARE! I'm going to send this report because it's a current topic to Rodrigo Lombardi, who has an Instagram channel called "Boca TV," where he interacts with the public in a simple and humanized way, perhaps it's another weight of help to speak for us.