In autumn, the roads fill up quite quickly with citizens, students and schoolchildren returning from holidays. Fifteen-year-olds who have just obtained their driving licences are also in the busy urban traffic.
Young people entering adulthood can already drive vehicles of certain specifications (AM category). There is also a legal provision that allows them to drive without practical driving lessons or a practical driving test.
According to Karolína Laura Briliūtė, a lawyer at AVOCAD, this unique regulation, designed to give young people the opportunity to start driving at an early age, has recently raised a number of road safety concerns.
“We find ourselves in a situation where we have unique regulations among European countries that emphasize the need to strike a reasonable balance between increasing mobility and ensuring adequate driving skills. To better understand Lithuania’s legal framework, let’s analyze similar regulations in other countries,” says the lawyer.
In Lithuania, driving for persons aged 15 years to obtain an AM driving licence is regulated by a number of key pieces of legislation. The Law on Road Traffic Safety stipulates that the right to drive AM category vehicles (mopeds and light quadricycles) can be acquired by persons aged 15 or over. Basically, a light quadricycle is understood as a car with certain specifications - maximum weight 350 kg, maximum speed 45 km/h, maximum engine displacement 50 cc.
Under Lithuanian law, only a theory test is required to obtain the right to drive an AM category vehicle, and no practical driving lessons or test are required. This liberal approach, according to the lawyer, is very different from the stricter requirements in many other countries, where practical training and a driving test are required even for low-speed vehicles.
While the aim is to give young drivers more autonomy, allowing driving without practical training increases the risk of accidents, even in low-speed vehicles. Statistics show that young and inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents. Practical training and supervised driving are considered to be key factors in reducing this risk in many countries.
“Although Lithuania’s legal framework is geared toward increasing mobility, several proposals for improving road safety could be considered, such as the introduction of mandatory practical lessons, the implementation of a practical driving test, or the establishment of a probationary period for young drivers. These reforms would bring Lithuanian regulations more in line with international standards, as many countries require both theoretical and practical training for young drivers,” emphasizes K. Briliūtė.
However, amendments to the draft law on road safety are currently being initiated, which would allow people aged 16 and over to acquire the right to drive these vehicles, and would require completion of not only theoretical but also practical driving courses and a practical driving test.
“However, if we look at other countries, they have established more comprehensive systems for young drivers, requiring a test of theoretical knowledge, practical lessons, and supervised driving, in order to ensure road safety,” the lawyer notes.
In Germany, drivers from the age of 15 must pass a theory test, attend compulsory practical driving lessons with a certified driving instructor, and pass a practical driving test, which tests driving skills in real traffic.
In France, the right to drive an AM category includes compulsory practical training. An 8-hour practical training course with a licensed instructor is mandatory. France does not require a practical test, but, unlike Lithuanian law, compulsory practical training provides such skills.
The United Kingdom has a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. It includes a provisional driver’s license that allows driving only under supervision (usually for one year). It also requires passing both a written test and a practical driving test. This system imposes restrictions on night driving or driving with passengers to reduce the risk of accidents under the most dangerous driving conditions. “The GDL system could serve as a model for a probationary period in Lithuania, allowing young drivers to gain experience under controlled conditions—such as supervised driving or restrictions on driving zones and times—until they obtain full driving privileges,” says the AVOCAD lawyer.
Finland has established requirements to pass a theory test and complete practical lessons before obtaining any category of driving licence. In addition, there is a strong focus on road safety throughout the education system to ensure that young drivers understand the risks and responsibilities involved in driving.
According to Karolina Briliūtė, if we analyse the regulations in countries such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Finland, we can certainly find ways to improve the Lithuanian system: Introduce a requirement for compulsory practical driving lessons, introduce a practical driving test tailored to AM vehicles, introduce a graduated licensing system where young drivers start with a probationary licence allowing them to drive with supervision or restrictions before being granted a full driving licence, improve road safety education programmes to teach young drivers about the risks and responsibilities associated with driving, especially in low-speed vehicles, limit driving zones and times for 15-year-olds to ensure that they do not drive in high-risk areas such as motorways or drive at night.
“These proposed reforms, which are aligned with international best practices, would improve road safety in Lithuania while maintaining the law’s original objective—to provide young people with greater mobility,” the lawyer notes.