Denmark considers lowering legal driving age

As part of a 100-point ‘growth package’ presented on Monday, the Venstre government has proposed letting 17-year-olds drive.

The government is proposing a trial programme that would drop the legal driving age in Denmark from 18 to 17. Under the plan, 17-year-olds would be able to drive as long as they are accompanied by an experienced driver. 

                                                                                   

“It will allow for better accessibility in rural areas and if mum or dad are sitting next to them, they will be confident in driving with an adult they trust,” Business Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. 

The government also proposed dropping the legal age for driving a moped from 16 to 15. 

The decrease in the driving age has been brought up several times before but has yet to garner a parliamentary majority. This time however it is being included in a large package of initiatives as part of the government’s ‘growth plan’. 

Another initiative under the plan would see the price of ferries dropped significantly while the price for commuting over the Great Belt Fixed Link (Storebæltsbroen) connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen would become 25 percent cheaper. 

 

The government's full plan, 'Growth and Development in All of Denmark', can be found here (in Danish). 

THE LOCAL DENMARK