With the appearance of an electric car, and in general, an automatic transmission on our cars, some candidates quite naturally have the question of passing a classic driver’s license with a manual transmission.
In 2022 13.9% of candidates chose automatic approval, with strong variations depending on the region, from 9.3% in Haut-de-France to 24.6% in Ile-de-France and 32.3% in Paris. Of the nearly 1.6 million license applicants last year, 219,789 opted for a “clutch automatic transmission” (BEA) license.
Strong disparities between regions
This is the first time that the difference between the two licenses has appeared in official statistics, an opportunity to also note that, according to the latest assessment of the most difficult exams in France, published by Road Safety, success rate for BEA permit is only 48.2% compared to 56.8% for all B permit applicants.
This report also highlights the effectiveness of early driver education because 74.7% of candidates who followed this formula were licensed in 2022.
Students who experience difficulties apply for permission from BEA
It is therefore difficult to explain why applicants for a BEA license have more difficulty obtaining a driver’s license, while those working in the “classic” sector will do better, with greater “restrictions” due to the presence of a manual gearbox and therefore an additional operation, which must be completed in the account.
The first element of the answer is given in the columns of Auto Plus magazine by Patrick Crespo, president of the CER network, who notes that the BEA license is “often preferred to students who already have difficulties with driving”.
As noted above in the regional disparity statistics, an automatic transmission license is preferred in large cities, an environment with sometimes very heavy traffic and many traps. As a result, there are also more corrections on exam day.
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Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.