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Driving Schools To Be Regulated

Finally Costa Ricans will have an opportunity to learn to drive properly with the approval of the Comisión Plena II del Congreso approved the bill “Ley de Regulación de las Escuelas de Manejo” – a law regulating driving schools.

The bill was presented by Guyón Massey of the Partido Restauración Nacional, that pretends to obligate driving schools to impart basic and uniform courses on the rules of the road, driving skills and the Ley de Tránsito (traffic laws).

Under the proposal, the Dirección General de Educación Vial del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), would have the legal tools to regulate driving schools and the instructors.

Currently, anyone can call themself a driving instructor and operate a driving school for the preparation of driving lessons.

The new proposal would ensure that instructors have at least a high scholl diploma and have five years driving experience and a license equal to or superior to the type of instructions being imparted.

Massey feels that regulating driving schools and instructors is an extension of the reforms to the Ley de Tránsito recently passed by legislators, that introduces stiffer fines and sanctions against bad drivers.

Massey added that instructions will have to pass a course by the Dirección General de Educación Vial with at least an 80% grade, driving schools will be required to have a classroom equipped with driving material approved by the Dirección, and texts and written material to include basic auto mechanics and understanding of a vehicle’s operation.

Driving schools, if the law is approved, will also be required to have at least one registered vehicle that has double controls, vehicles used in driving instructions be fully identifiable with signage and must be insured.

In addition, driving school directors must hold a valid driving license and at least five years driving experience, know how to read and write, in addition to having a high school diploma.