Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Added(ga) independent driving towards a determined destination, beyond specific turning indications; [Am. 175]

Added(h) special road features (if available): roundabouts; taking roundabout with a large vehicle; right and left driving; railway level crossings; tram/bus stops; pedestrian crossings; ridingbike lanes; driving up-/downhill on long slopes; gradient changes; tunnels; [Am. 176]

Added(ha) interaction with other road users, including foreseeing blind spots and adequate use of direction indicators; [Am. 177]

Added(i) taking the necessary precautions whenentering and alighting from the vehicle, including making sure that it is safe to open the vehicle door and that this will not create a hazard for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility user, with particular emphasis on opening the door with the hand furthest from it; [Am. 178]

Added(j) reacting and anticipating to hazardous situations, including using simulators. [Am. 179]

Added8. Skills and behaviour to be tested concerning categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 and D1E

Added(1) Preparation and technical check of the vehicle with a bearing on road safety

AddedApplicants shall demonstrate that they are capable of preparing to drive safely by satisfying the following requirements:

Added(a) adjusting the seat as necessary to obtain a correct seated position;

Added(b) adjusting rear-view mirrors, seat belts and head restraints if available;

Added(c) random checks on the condition of the tyres, steering, brakes, lights, reflectors, direction indicators and audible warning device;

Added(d) checking the power-assisted braking and steering systems; checking the condition of the wheels, wheel nuts, mudguards, windscreen, windows and wipers, fluids (for instance engine oil, coolant, washer fluid); checking and using the instrument panel including the recording equipment as defined in Regulation (EU) No 165/2014. This latter requirement does not apply to the applicants for a driving licence for a category C1 or C1E vehicle not falling within the scope of that Regulation;

Added(e) checking the air pressure, air tanks and the suspension;

Added(f) checking the safety factors relating to vehicle loading: body, sheets, cargo doors, loading mechanism (if available), cabin locking (if available), way of loading, securing load (categories C, CE, C1, C1E only);

Added(g) checking the coupling mechanism and the brake and electrical connections (categories CE, C1E, DE, D1E only);

Added(h) being capable of taking special vehicle safety measures; controlling the body, service doors, emergency exits, first aid equipment, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment (categories D, DE, D1, D1E only);

Added(i) reading a road map, route planning, including the use of electronic navigation systems (optional).

Added(2) Special manoeuvres to be tested with a bearing on road safety:

Added(a) coupling and uncoupling, or uncoupling and re-coupling a trailer from its motor vehicle; the manoeuvre must involve the towing vehicle being parked alongside the trailer (i.e. not in one line) (categories CE, C1E, DE, D1E only);

Added(aa) the various trailer to truck coupling mechanisms, taking into account the fifth wheel coupling for articulated vehicles (for semi-trailers), and drawbar hitch coupling for drawbar trailers (rigid truck), as well as the standard operating procedures and protocols for connecting and disconnecting trailers from trucks while using these coupling mechanisms; [Am. 184]

Added(b) reversing along a curve, the line of which shall be left to the discretion of the Member States;

Added(c) parking safely for loading/unloading at a loading ramp/platform or similar installation (categories C, CE, C1, C1E, T only); [Am. 185]

Added(d) parking to let passengers on or off the bus safely (categories D, DE, D1, D1E only).

Added(3) Behaviour in traffic

AddedApplicants shall perform all the following actions in normal traffic situations, in complete safety and taking all necessary precautions:

Added(a) driving away: after parking, after a stop in traffic; exiting a driveway;

Added(b) driving on straight roads; passing oncoming vehicles, including in confined spaces;

Added(c) driving round bends;

Added(d) crossroads: approaching and crossing of intersections and junctions;

Added(e) changing direction: left and right turns; changing lanes, making a U turn; [Am. 186]

Added(ea) factoring in blind spots; [Am. 187]

Added(f) approach/exit of motorways or similar (if available): joining from the acceleration lane; leaving on the deceleration lane;

Added(g) overtaking/passing: overtaking other trafficroad users and micromobility users, including cyclists and pedestrians (if possible); driving alongside obstacles, for instance parked cars; being overtaken by other traffic (if appropriate); [Am. 188]

Added(h) special road features: taking (if available): roundabouts with a large vehicle; driving on the left and right; railway level crossings; tram/bus stops; pedestrian crossings, bike lanes; riding up-/downhill on long slopes; tunnels; [Am. 189]

Added(i) taking the necessary precautions whenentering and alighting from the vehicle., including making sure that it is safe to open the vehicle door and that this will not create a hazard for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility; [Am. 190]

Added(ia) the precautions to be taken when entering and exiting a vehicle in a safe way. [Am. 191]

Added(4) Safe and energy-efficient driving:

Added(a) driving in such a way as to ensure safety and to reduce fuel/energy consumption and emissions during acceleration, deceleration, uphill and downhill driving, distance to the vehicle in front; curve overtaking, change of lane, priority rules, speed limits; [Am. 192]

Added(b) reacting and anticipating to hazardous situations, including using simulators [Am. 193]

Added9. Marking of the test of skills and behaviour

Added(1) For each of the abovementioned driving situations in points 6, 7 and 8, the assessment shall reflect the degree of ease with which the applicant handles the vehicle controls and his or her demonstrated capacity to drive in traffic in complete safety. The examiner must feel safe throughout the test. Driving errors or dangerous conduct immediately endangering the safety of the test vehicle, its passengers or other road users shall be penalised by failing the test, whether or not the examiner or accompanying person has to intervene. Nonetheless, the examiner shall be free to decide whether or not the skills and behaviour test shall be completed.

AddedDriving examiners shall be trained to assess correctly the applicants' ability to drive safely. The work of driving examiners shall be monitored and supervised, by aan independent body authorised by the Member State, to ensure correct and consistent application of fault assessment in accordance with the standards laid down in this Annex. [Am. 194]

Added(2) During their assessment, driving examiners shall pay special attention to whether an applicant is showing a defensive and social driving behaviour. This shall reflect the overall style of driving and the driving examiner shall take this into account in the overall picture of the applicant. It includes adapted and determined (safe) driving, taking into account road and weather conditions, taking into account other traffic, taking into account the interests of other road users (particularly the vulnerable road users) and anticipation.

Added(3) The driving examiner shall furthermore assess whether the applicant:

Added(a) controls the vehicle; taking into account: proper use of safety belts, modern safety and driving aids rear-view mirrors, head restraints; seat; proper use of lights and other equipment; proper use of clutch, gearbox, accelerator, braking systems (including third braking system, if available), steering; controlling the vehicle under different circumstances, at different speeds; steadiness on the road; the weight and dimensions and characteristics of the vehicle; the weight and type of load (categories BE, C, CE, C1, C1E, DE, D1E, T only); the comfort of the passengers (categories D, DE, D1, D1E only) (no fast acceleration, smoothly driving and no hard braking); [Am. 195]

Added(b) drives economically and in a safe and energy-efficient way, taking into account the revolutions per minute, changing gears, braking and accelerating and uses intrinsic in-vehicle driving and/or safety aids (categories B, BE, C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E only); [Am. 196]

Added(c) complies with observation rules: all-round observation; proper use of mirrors and new technologies; far, middle, near distance vision; [Am. 197]

Added(d) respects priority/giving way: priority at crossroads, intersections and junctions; giving way at other occasions (for instance changing direction, changing lanes, special manoeuvres);

Added(e) has a correct position on the road: proper position on the road, in lanes, on roundabouts, round bends, suitable for the type and the characteristics of the vehicle; pre-positioning;

Added(f) keeps distance: keeping adequate distance to the front and the side; keeping adequate distance from other road users in particular vulnerable road users;

Added(g) respects speed limits and recommendations: not exceeding the maximum allowed speed; adapting speed to weather/traffic conditions and where appropriate up to national speed limits; driving at such a speed that stopping within distance of the visible and free road is possible; adapting speed to general speed of same kind of road users;

Added(h) respects traffic lights, road signs and other indications: acting correctly at traffic lights; obeying instructions from traffic controllers; acting correctly at road signs (prohibitions or commands); take appropriate action at road markings;

Added(i) respects signalling: give signals where necessary, correctly and properly timed; indicating directions correctly; taking appropriate action with regard to all signals made by other road users;

Added(j) controls braking and stopping: decelerating in time, braking or stopping according to circumstances; anticipation; using the various braking systems (only for categories C, CE, D, DE); using speed reduction systems other than the brakes and use of in-vehicle technologies (only for categories C, CE, D, DE). [Am. 198]

Added10. Length of the test

AddedThe length of the test and the distance travelled shall be sufficient to assess the skills and behaviour laid down in title B of this Annex. In no circumstances shall the time spent driving on the road be less than 25 minutes for categories A, A1, A2, B, B1 and BE and 45 minutes for the other categories. This shall not include the reception of the applicant, the preparation of the vehicle, the technical check of the vehicle with a bearing on road safety, the special manoeuvres and the announcement of the outcome of the practical test.

Added11. Location of the test

AddedThe part of the test to assess the special manoeuvres may be conducted on a special testing ground. Wherever practicable, the part of the test to assess behaviour in traffic shall be conducted on roads outside built-up areas, expressways and motorways (or similar), as well as on all kinds of urban streets (residential areas, 30 and 50 km/h areas, urban expressways) which shall represent the various types of difficulty likely to be encountered by drivers. It is also desirable for the test to take place in various traffic density conditions. The time spent driving on the road shall be used in an optimal way to assess the applicant in all the various traffic areas that may be encountered, with a special emphasis on changing between those areas.

AddedII. KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND BEHAVIOUR FOR DRIVING A POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLE

AddedDrivers of all power-driven vehicles shall at any moment have the knowledge, skills and behaviour described under points 1 to 9, with a view to being able to: