After the exams for the motorcycle and heavy goods vehicle license, candidates for the B license can from this Monday, June 8 present their know-how and be in front of an inspector… provided they find one.
Beware of stalling! If the driving schools resumed their activity as soon as the lockdown was lifted, this is not the case for the driving license and road safety inspectors (IPCSR) for the B license. The Ministry of the Interior has announced the resumption of car license exams from this Monday, June 8th – subject to a contrary decision of the department prefect. However, since March 16, Place Beauvau estimates that 350,000 exams have been canceled – all permits combined – due to Covid-19.
In this new context of social distancing, vagueness prevails in this area. For the time being, no health safety protocol has been officially validated by the Ministry of Labor, sometimes the departmental prefectures dictate their conditions but often it is the professional organizations that try to harmonize practices. The National Council of Automotive Professionals (CNPA) – employers’ organization – notably offers its members the compulsory wearing of a mask inside the car as well as a visor, except for the candidate. He also recommends that the seats be protected by covers changed with each change of person.
Permit exam plugs
However, Lorenzo Lefebvre, boss of a driving school and elected to the CNPA Education and Road Safety, is sounding the alarm to his colleagues. “It is a disasterhe explains. Across all departments, we estimate that we have between 50 and 60% of exam places compared to before the crisis.“That is to say that they can present almost half as many candidates as before. A difficult shortfall for this sector also impacted by the two months of administrative closure. The elected representative of the CNPA explains in a video to members on social networks that a plan has been implemented for production in May and June of 80 to 90% of pre-crisis places, then to intensify the pace to 125% in July and maintain the pace at 123% until at the end of the year. A bet that today seems lost.”The more we advance in time, the more the gap and the need for examination increases when it was supposed to be reduced” he breathes.
The reasons for this failure at startup? The massive return of students as well as the rapid reopening of driving schools while inspectors would be more on sick leave or childcare, according to the employers’ organization. A lack of personnel to which is added material constraints such as the disinfection of the car between each candidate which wastes time.
The CNPA proposes to lengthen the days of license B inspectors and to make them work on Saturdays, to appeal to retirees as well as to lighten the examination of the driving licence. “Three skills can be outsourced [de l’inspecteur] : checks and the question of first aid, maneuvers and autonomous driving“, he suggests. The inspector would still have to test driving in traffic. A way to save time to pass the exam to more candidates. Proposals that the professional organization must still defend in front of the authorities.Between economic urgency for companies and candidates, and the risk of a discounted examination, road safety officials will choose 3rd or 5th gear.
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