Large cars - Categories C and D.

This section is general for categories C and D, which is why the term "car" is used. If there are conditions that only apply to one category, the term "bus" or "lorry" is used instead.

1. purpose and content of the driver training programme

According to section 56 of the Road Traffic Act, you need a driving licence to drive a car. One of the conditions for obtaining a driving licence is that you take lessons with an approved driving instructor and then pass a driving test conducted by the police or a driving judge from the Danish Defence. The driving instructor must teach according to the RIGSPOLITIET syllabus, which includes both a theoretical and a practical syllabus. The syllabus can be purchased at bookstores or reviewed at the police driving licence office. Driving schools can also usually be expected to have a syllabus available for students' reference. The purpose of training for large cars and lorries (categories C, D, C/E and D/E) is:

• To give students an insight into and understanding of the dangers and difficulties they encounter as drivers of large vehicles on the road, and to provide them with knowledge of the traffic rules and other legal provisions that are important in this context.
• To provide the students with such knowledge of the vehicle and its operation that they can recognise any defects that arise that are important for safety.
• To provide students with the skills to critically assess traffic and drive the vehicle without endangering themselves or others.

In addition, the driver training for categories C and D should be seen as a supplement to the driver training for category B. Therefore, training for categories C and D may only begin when the basis is in order, i.e. when the learner has acquired a category B licence. You must be at least 21 years old to obtain a category D licence.

Category E is also an extension of categories C or D, and here too the basis must be in order, i.e. you must have a driving licence for the category that will be towing the trailer before you can begin the training.

The driving instructor must ensure, by reviewing the learning material for category B, that the learner continues to possess the basic knowledge and skills to the extent that they are relevant to driving large vehicles and combinations of vehicles, as stated in the sub-objectives in the syllabus. As mentioned, the C, D, C/E and D/E driving training is a category B further training programme. This means that some material on the legal equipment of vehicles is new compared to category B. A new medical certificate is also required due to the stricter health requirements for these categories. The driver training programme is described in learning objectives, which state what you should know and be able to do by the end of the course. It also clearly states what the examiners will judge the students on. The provisions of the Road Traffic Act are necessary, but they are not a sufficient basis for driver training. A good and safe driver of a large vehicle needs to know and be able to do much more than what can be learnt from traffic laws, and this is where accident research comes to the rescue.

So much knowledge has been accumulated, especially about the human causes of accidents, that it can be included in driver training programmes. The purpose of driver training is for students to learn about the dangers and difficulties in traffic as drivers of large vehicles. Driver training thus emphasises that learners should become familiar with the special risks associated with driving large vehicles, learn to perceive and assess potential hazards and react appropriately to them. This means that in a number of situations, the driving instructor will require a safer driving behaviour than required by road traffic law.

The decisive factor is safety. On the other hand, it should be emphasised that driving school will not teach you everything that you could later be held responsible for by the authorities. There have always been limits to what should be required of a future lorry or bus driver.

Organisation of the training

The lessons in driving school include both theoretical and practical lessons, i.e. some take place in the theory room and some in the school car, but theory and practice are closely linked. After all, the purpose of theory lessons is to facilitate and support practical lessons. Therefore, the theory should also be addressed from the beginning, so that a practical exercise or manoeuvre in the school car is preceded by a theory lesson on the same topic. The driving school has a plan according to which the theoretical and practical lessons follow one after the other. The student must follow this plan when studying theory at home in order to be well prepared for the practical driving lessons.

If you arrive unprepared, the driving instructor will have to use some of the driving time to go over theory material with the student. The driving school provides the student with a lesson plan (logbook). This gives you an overview of the entire programme and shows you what you need to study.

According to the Danish Road Safety Agency's syllabus, you must have participated in so-called evaluative tests with tasks based on slides so that you are familiar with the conditions and procedures of the written theory test. Such tests or tasks are organised according to a fixed pattern in the driving school.

Exercises, time and place must fit together

The practical driving lessons in road manoeuvring should also be conducted according to certain pedagogical principles, starting with easy and simple exercises in a quiet place and gradually increasing the difficulty on busier roads. This ensures that teaching and learning is as quick and effective as possible.

The syllabus also requires that some manoeuvres must be performed under certain conditions. For example, driving in the dark should obviously not be done in daylight. In this case, the student must prepare for evening driving lessons in the summertime. The organisation and implementation of the driving lessons are designed to ensure that you learn everything you need to know before taking the driving test.

What the different licence categories entitle you to:

Driving licences stamped in box C entitle the holder to drive the following vehicles:

• Truck with a permissible total weight over 3500kg.
• A lorry with a trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of no more than 750 kg.
• Powered articulated lorries, including mobile cranes and container trucks.
• Passenger car with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat and with a permissible total weight of over 3,500 kg (large motorhome).

Driving licences stamped in box D entitle the holder to drive the following vehicles:

• Passenger car with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat.
• Large passenger car with attached trailer with a maximum authorised gross weight of no more than 750 kg.
• Ledbus.
• Category D driving licences can only be issued to a person who is 21 years of age or older.

Driving licences stamped in box C/E entitle the holder to drive the following vehicles:

• A lorry with an attached trailer, trailer or semi-trailer with a permissible total weight of more than 750 kg.
• Passenger car with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat and with a permissible total weight of more than 3500 kg (large motorhome) with a trailer with a permissible total weight of more than 750 kg.
• Truck with an attached unregistered trailer weighing more than 750kg.
• Truck with a trailer attached.
• Mobile crane with attached trailer.
• Passenger car (or bus) with attached trailer.

Driving licences stamped in box D/E entitle the holder to drive the following vehicles:

• Bus with an attached trailer with a maximum authorised gross weight of more than 750 kg.
• Passenger car with attached trailer (B/E card).

Organisation of the training
The lessons in driving school include both theoretical and practical lessons, i.e. some take place in the theory room and some in the school car, but theory and practice are closely linked. After all, the purpose of theory lessons is to facilitate and support practical lessons. Therefore, the theory should also be addressed from the beginning, so that a practical exercise or manoeuvre in the school car is preceded by a theory lesson on the same topic. The driving school has a plan according to which the theoretical and practical lessons follow one after the other. The student must follow this plan when studying theory at home in order to be well prepared for the practical driving lessons.

If you arrive unprepared, the driving instructor will have to use some of the driving time to go over theory material with the student. The driving school provides the student with a lesson plan (logbook). This gives you an overview of the entire programme and shows you what you need to study.

According to the Danish Road Safety Agency's syllabus, you must have participated in so-called evaluative tests with tasks based on slides so that you are familiar with the conditions and procedures of the written theory test. Such tests or tasks are organised according to a fixed pattern in the driving school.

Exercises, time and place must fit together
The practical driving lessons in road manoeuvring should also be conducted according to certain pedagogical principles, starting with easy and simple exercises in a quiet place and gradually increasing the difficulty on busier roads. This ensures that teaching and learning is as quick and effective as possible.

The syllabus also requires that some manoeuvres must be performed under certain conditions. For example, driving in the dark should obviously not be done in daylight. In this case, the student must prepare for evening driving lessons in the summertime. The organisation and implementation of the driving lessons are designed to ensure that you learn everything you need to know before taking the driving test.

Additional training

• Drivers of lorries used for the transport of dangerous goods exceeding certain quantities must hold a vocational training certificate (ADR certificate). The details are set out in the executive order on the road transport of dangerous goods.
• Drivers operating truck-mounted cranes with a load capacity of more than 8 tonne metres must hold a special training certificate. This also applies to drivers of mobile cranes. The detailed provisions are set out in the executive order on training for crane licences.
• Drivers transporting animals for an economic operator over distances of more than 65 kilometres must hold a certificate of competence for special training.
• Drivers of trucks used for commercial purposes must undergo basic driver qualification training (entered into force on 10 September 2009). This training must be maintained every 5 years. The detailed provisions are set out in the Danish Transport Authority's executive order on driver training.
• Drivers of buses and coaches used for commercial purposes. For commercial driving, drivers must have acquired a driver training certificate as proof that they have completed a basic qualification training programme. In addition, drivers must complete one week of continuing education every five years. The training must last at least 5 days and must be completed within a 12-month period.
• Drivers of buses and coaches used for private or non-commercial purposes. For private or non-commercial driving, drivers of buses and coaches must generally hold a red qualification certificate for special training in addition to a driving licence. However, there are several situations where no qualification certificates are required for domestic bus and coach driving.

This applies, among other things:

a) Purely private transport by bus designed for a maximum of 17 persons, including the driver. The bus must be driven by the registered user of the bus or a member of his/her household. Only members of the registered user's family may be carried as passengers.

b) Private, non-commercial and commercial passenger transport on routes within a radius of 50 kilometres from the bus's home base. The detailed provisions, including other exceptions, are set out in the "Executive Order on qualification requirements for certain drivers of vehicles in road transport".

Responsibility of the owner, user and driver.

The owner or permanent user of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is in a legal condition and thus fulfils the applicable legal requirements for the vehicle's equipment and fittings. The person driving the vehicle is also responsible and must always ensure that the vehicle is in a safe condition so that it does not endanger or inconvenience others and does not damage the road.

The driver must ensure that the steering, brakes, horn and all lights are working properly and that any coupling device is in good working order. As an owner, user or driver, you cannot pass on responsibility for faults and defects to others, such as a car repair shop, because the vehicle has just been inspected.