Did you know that all drivers in Germany are potentially subject to an Idiotentest? Well, “Idiot Test” is the popular term; technically it’s called the Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchungen (Medical-Psychological Test) and it’s administered to some 100,000 Germans each year by the Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (Federal Highway Research Institute). The point is, if a German driver does something colossally stupid, like run a red light, wreck while racing, or get caught driving drunk, the Bundesanstalt makes him or her take a test to determine that they are medically and psychologically capable of driving safely. If you fail, either get sent back to (mandatory) driving school, or you lose your license (and gain the sneaking suspicion that your high school counselor was right, and you really are an idiot). Anyway, while you’re pondering the pros and cons of this system compared to America’s lassez-idiot approach, consider this: the number of idiot tests administered to German drivers was up three percent last year, the first time in years that the number went up. Apparently you can’t keep automotive idiocy down.
The reasons for the increase, according to Auto Motor und Sport: more drivers wrecking while racing, running red lights, taking narcotics in traffic (yes, really), and “overtaking dangerously.” Still none of these automotive idiocies was able to top the international king of stupid moves behind the wheel, driving drunk, which triggered 54 percent of all idiot tests.
Intriguingly, the Idiot Test has come under criticism from several German auto clubs and others, who argue that the tests are insufficiently transparent and that failing the test can make it nearly impossible to regain one’s driver’s license. One lawyer tells AM und S that
The scandal of the Idiot Test is that it’s nearly impossible to defend against their decisions
Which actually makes good sense. Idiots are notoriously bad at defending themselves against anything. And really, if you’re living in a society that requires mandatory driver training, failing an Idiot Test doesn’t leave you with many scapegoats. Which was probably the point.
You’re a fan of governments forcing life-altering changes while concealing the criteria used to force those changes?
I fail to see a significant correlation between intelligence and being a bad driver. Yes the listed circumstances that would require an IQ test are indeed dumb moves. However, am I to believe that someone’s sole motive for say running a red light is a lack of intelligence? It’s seems like having the offender take another written or road test would be a more effective method of eliminating bad drivers.
it is not an IQ test. It is a psychological test. Rumors say that the test depends on your violation. If drugs/alcohol brought you to the test, it will relate to testing if you are likely to DUI again. If aggressive driving was the reason, the test will reflect that. It is like an interview with a shrink. Again, that is what I heard, not what I know for sure.
there are books and courses on how to pass it with examples. Like when they ask you if you still smoke weed. then you say “I don’t even have time to do that because i need to take care of my dog”. then they will say, the only reason you don’t do drugs is because you don’t have time but if you had time you still would do drugs. Again, one of the rumors I heard.
But for sure it isn’t really related to intelligence, more to your mental state. And lets not forget, everyone who is forced to take it, has done something wrong one way or another. As Ed pointed out, DUI being the most frequent reason. I don’t think running a red light once makes you take the test. It most likely relates to repeated offenders. Or when you lose your license when you have more than 12 points. People needing to go there are not your average occasional speeder. I think therefore I don’t know one single person who had to take it, but I know many who had many speeding tickets and even minor DUI. This shows me the test is for the really bad ones.
In Germany DUI etc. is punished more than in the US anyway. You likely get a 1 month license suspension for speeding over certain kmh or running a red light. alcohol makes you a pedestrian for a year when a few promille above legal limit (and that is 0.05). This is very unlike the US where 3 DUIs still allow you to drive to work.
Its a fairly effective system, actually. Unfair to some, too — as all legal systems are.
Traffic offense = one to four points.
Traffic crime = five to seven points.
Go to traffic school: reduce your tally by two points.
Got eight points: you get warned in writing.
Fourteen to seventeen points: you have to do the “medical-psychological test” =(Idiots test). Indeed, there are not many legal recourses against the MPT. But there are legal measures you can take against any of the previous points you got — and people use the best lawyers money can buy to do so.
Eighteen points: you lose your license.
Drive for two years without getting an additional point: your tally is erased.
Any point older than five years is erased no matter what, except for “traffic felonies” such as manslaughter.
It worked for me. I had twelve points, mostly from speeding at least 30 km/h above the limit. I settled down, forced myself to adopt a shmoove driving style for 24 months, and now have zero points. I am now a psychologically better driver — more relaxed, less agressive, less hurried.
I also think it is common sense to do the tests, however I would do them prior to attaining a licence in the first place on top of applying them to serious offenders. Sure, a fair number would never qualify to drive but the advantages would be enormous.
It is already required to pass a psychological fitness / suitability test in certain European countries before they let you train for a truck driving licence – do not want people who are unable to concentrate or too aggressive behind the wheel of a 40 tonner. Well to be honest I would not want them behind the wheel of any vehicle apart from perhaps a bicycle but it would be political suicide for anyone to suggest it. Obligatory retesting of ones driving skills every 5 years appears quite sensible to me, too – again something that will sadly never happen.
I wonder if that’s A3 Golf/Jetta or B4 Passat? Can’t tell if it’s a diesel either since the tach isn’t visible.
My thought is that if you end up taking the idiot test in Germany, then you’ve probably been deemed an idiot.
I was shocked at how easily I was able to get my license in Maine when I moved. Since my original license was from Ontario all I had to do was an eye test and I got the license. No written test or road test. Amazing.
Of course Maine used to be one of the states where illegal immigrants could easily get a driver’s license so I guess that’s why it was so easy for me 10 years ago.