State toughens up driver's license requirements

Aug 24, 2000
Jaclyn M. Sindrich

TALLINN - Estonia's capital is relatively small and uncongested, yet one frequently experiences cars carelessly whipping around turns, tires screeching, and maniacally weaving through traffic. Pedestrians at times can't even escape. This past spring, a speeding police car struck and killed an elderly woman as she walked across the white-striped "zebra" crosswalk one night on her way home.

In an effort to reduce the country's accident rate, Estonia's drivers will face more stringent requirements in order to obtain a license as of Sept. 1, according to legislation approved by the government this month.

Aside from lengthened written examinations, the new requirements mandate that drivers take longer road exams in more crowded areas with traffic lights, instead of in backwoods deserted roads. And in the more rustic areas of Estonia with no traffic lights. On the island of Hiiumaa, a designated police officer will serve as a "traffic light."

After having a license for one year, a driver must pass additional courses that test winter conditions driving ability on slippery roads and on driving in the dark. New drivers will still have other limited privileges during their first year, including a "special" speed limit of 70 km per hour.

If the person with a license has an accident in the first two years, he or she can be ordered back to driver's school, depending on the seriousness of the accident. If it is relatively minor, the person must simply pass another exam.

Peeter Juhanson suggested that the new regulations are a good idea, because right now, he isn't satisfied with Estonia's road safety.

"It is not the ability to drive but the mentality of the people I don't like," said Juhanson, training center manager of the Tallinn Bus Company, which administers driving exams.

He said that not only are many people's everyday driving performance not indicative of their test results, but they take their carelessness further, which has resulted in pervasive drunk driving.

"Everybody knows we can't drive when drunk, but in the papers we can find lists of people who have driven drunk," said Juhanson.

Ultimately, Estonia's goal is to reduce its current traffic accident fatality rate from about 250 deaths per year - 4.2 per 10,000 inhabitants - to less than 100 per year by 2010, said Hellat Rumvolt, Ministry of Transport and Communications adviser on traffic safety.

There will be also national campaigns and special programs in schools to be held before 2010 to promote driver's safety, including the use of seat belts. The plan to improve road conditions is in accordance with an EU directive Estonia adopted in 1992, said Rumvolt.

Mart Puust, specialist on traffic administration for the Estonian National Road Administration, said that Estonia's road safety is comparable with that of other Eastern European nations. He assured that though rules now are tightening, they will get even stricter. He said traffic safety has already improved since 1992 through 1994, years he called "risky."

"Most accidents are by inexperienced or drunk drivers. It seems to be the problem that there are not enough trained people," he said.

Still, those unseasoned in navigating the concrete grids are not being blamed in full. The driving schools are also to blame, officials say. According to Rumvolt, only about 35 of the country's 160 driving schools meet all of the necessary requirements.

"We have promised to take away licenses from about five different schools. Their results (on students' examinations) are not up to government standards," he said.

If nothing else deters would-be careless drivers, perhaps the price of obtaining a license will. The initial course costs 800 kroons ($48) at driving schools such as the Tallinn Bus Company, and students are obligated to have a minimum of 20 hours driving time, each of which costs 100 kroons. The state also collects 1,140 kroons ($70) from every driver for the examinations.

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