Teaching pedals cause confusion for young drivers in Finland as over 3,000 tests canceled

The installation of teaching pedals for driving lessons has become a significant headache for many young drivers in Finland. This year alone, over 3,000 driving tests have been canceled due to improperly installed pedals. Confusion surrounds the purpose of these pedals—are they meant for the student, the instructor, or the examiner? Espoo native Toni Korppi, who has taught his two daughters to drive over the past two years, noted that the pedal’s installation is only verified right before the test, even though students may have driven with a faulty setup for years without anyone noticing.

Marjo Immonen, a leading expert at Finland’s Transport and Safety Agency Traficom, acknowledges that checking the pedal only before the driving test can be confusing. She insists that instructors should ensure the pedal is securely attached from the very first lesson, as dangerous situations can arise unexpectedly during driving instruction.

Immonen stresses the importance of the pedal for the safety of everyone involved, including the examiner, as students must make their own decisions during the test without additional guidance. The increased stress during testing can lead to more perilous situations compared to practice sessions, necessitating the examiner’s ability to stop the car if required.

In recent years, thousands of learners have been present in traffic, with over 21,500 successfully completing their tests in 2023. In 2017, the Ministry of Transport and Communications proposed removing the teaching pedal altogether, a suggestion that faced opposition due to concerns about safety during both instruction and testing. This proposal may face renewed discussions in light of upcoming changes to EU driving license directives.