From the 2nd, it will become possible to receive on-road training from driving academies even in front of one’s home. With eased regulations on driving academies, the fees for on-road training are also expected to significantly decrease.
The National Police Agency announced on the 1st that, following revisions to the enforcement decree and regulations of the Road Traffic Act from the 2nd, driving academy instructors can now drive academy vehicles to locations requested by trainees to provide on-road training.
Previously, novice drivers who had obtained licenses had to visit driving academies in person to complete fingerprint registration and course applications before receiving education. This led to widespread illegal on-road training by unregistered private instructors. In such cases, vehicles often lacked auxiliary brakes, increasing accident risks, and trainees might not receive proper compensation in accidents if instructors were uninsured.
Regulations on on-road training vehicles will also be significantly relaxed. Driving academies could previously only use educational vehicles that met strict standards for paint and specifications. However, under the eased regulations, additional painting will no longer be required, and academies can operate various vehicle types, including compact, midsize, and large cars, beyond existing specifications. As operating costs for academies decrease, the average on-road training fee, which was 580,000 Korean won for 10 hours, is also expected to drop significantly.
Kim Ho-seung, Director of Public Safety and Transportation at the National Police Agency, stated, “We will create an environment where novice drivers can safely receive driving education by providing maximum convenience to trainees and minimizing their financial burden.”
