A Bolsonarist tries to reestablish compulsory driving schools

Led by Bolsonarista Coronel Meira (PL-PE), a group of deputies wants to revoke the resolution of the National Traffic Council (Contran) which put an end to the compulsory driving school to obtain a driving license.

A draft legislative decree against the resolution has already been submitted to the House by Meira and received the support of deputies Delegado Caveira (PL-PA), Gilson Daniel (Podemos-ES), Zé Adriano (PP-AC) and Fausto Pinato (PP-SP).

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Deputy Colonel Meira

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Deputy Colonel Meira

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An MP wants to revoke the end of compulsory driving schools

VINÍCIUS SCHMIDT/METRÓPOLES @vinicius.foto

According to Meira, who is one of the deputy leaders of the opposition in the House, the federal government “ignores the essential role of driving schools”, which “historically contribute to the reduction of road accidents”.

For MP Bolsonaro, “the proposed deregulation could worsen the number of annual deaths by authorizing superficial training”. He also cites the economic impacts on the sector, which employs 200,000 people in Brazil.

“The defect that taints the aforementioned act is that of manifest illegality and a clear extrapolation of regulatory power, without taking into account the risks for the training of qualified drivers, the driving school sector and the contracts already signed, imposing direct losses on companies through reimbursements of values and imbalances in paid agreements, in addition to compromising road safety and violating constitutional principles such as the non-retroactivity of laws and acquired rights,” affirms the deputy.

End of driving schools?

On Monday (January 12), Contran unanimously approved the resolution that ends the requirement for driving schools to obtain a driving license. The organization is responsible for defining traffic rules.

Theoretical and practical tests to obtain a driving license will be maintained. The requirements remain the same for most categories: toxicological tests will remain mandatory for drivers in categories C (cargo vehicles), D (transport of people) and E (trailers and articulated vehicles).

However, according to the rules approved by Contran, there will no longer be a minimum number of theoretical lessons that the candidate must take, and the minimum number of hours of practical driving lessons will drop from 20 hours to just two hours. Furthermore, courses can be taught by independent instructors, not attached to driving schools.