Simulators are used in many driving schools. However, these cannot yet replace regular driving experience. Driving schools must also take this into account in their advertising, say competition officials.
According to competition watchdogs, driving schools do not always advertise with correct statements in their competitive market.
According to its own information, the competition center in Bad Homburg has issued warnings to 22 driving schools that have made sensitive statements about the training offered in driving simulators in their advertising campaigns. In the opinion of the headquarters, statements that promise cost advantages through the simulator training are anti-competitive.
The costs of the driver training are an important criterion for the decision of the prospective driver learner, explained lawyer Peter Breun-Görke. It is true that driving schools are free to point out the possible advantages of lessons in the simulator. This could be, for example, the multiple exercise options for any dangerous situation or the lower stress, especially for novice drivers.
In the opinion of various courts, however, there is so far no scientific evidence that the use of simulators can also reduce the number of driving hours required. Therefore, advertising claims about the costs would have to be avoided.
In 18 cases, an out-of-court settlement was reached with the driving schools, the headquarters announced. In 4 cases a degree is still pending. According to the Moving industry association, there are around 10,000 driving schools in Germany with an annual turnover of around 2.5 billion euros. Simulators are already used in many and the students are billed for the hours in them.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
