In Sweden, it is common to practice driving privately, before getting a driver’s license for a car.
This means that you can drive a car without a driver’s license, as long as you have a driver’s license permit and an approved supervisor is in the passenger seat.
However, there are some pitfalls that you as a supervisor have to watch out for when doing practice runs. Otherwise there is a risk of fines.
Rules for tutors
To become a supervisor for private practice driving for a passenger car, you must be approved for this by The Swedish Transport Agency.
To be approved, you must be 24 years old, have completed an introductory course in the last 5 years, and have a valid driver’s license from Sweden or another ESS country.
Supervisors must have had the authorization for the vehicle type in question for a total of at least 5 of the last 10 years.
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The supervisor is seen as the driver
An important thing to remember when practice driving is that the supervisor is, in a legal sense, the driver of the vehicle, according to STR.
The instructor must therefore follow the same rules when practice driving as when he himself is behind the wheel.
Steering wheel surfing is not only illegal when driving a car – Photo: Erik Nylander/TT
If, for example, you are stopped for speeding during a practice drive, it is therefore the supervisor, not the student, who risks a fine. However, the risk is that the student’s driving license will be revoked.
The fact that you must not drive too fast when practicing is probably obvious to most people, but there is a rule that it is not as obvious that you as a supervisor must follow.
The pitfall for supervisors – when doing practice runs
The rule in question, which can easily become a pitfall for supervisors, revolves around the mobile phone.
It is not permitted to hold the mobile phone while driving.
But when you’re sitting in the passenger seat, it can feel natural to use your mobile phone to, for example, make a call or look something up on Google.
However, this does not happen by itself, it appears The Swedish Transport Agency’s website. As a supervisor, you must be fully focused on ensuring that driving is safe in traffic, and must not hold the mobile phone in your hand.
The normal penalty for “wheel surfing” is a fine.
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