What is the purpose of the theory exam, and how is it related to traffic safety?

The purpose of the exam is to ensure that a person has sufficient knowledge and skills to drive safely and independently in traffic. Essentially, it acts as a necessary filter—those who lack knowledge or skills do not enter traffic. The better the quality of driver training and examination, the safer our roads.


Is the theory exam difficult today?

No. We participated in the validation of exam questions and can confirm that the questions are not difficult. The exam rules are also fairly lenient. For example, in category B, you can answer 5 out of 40 questions incorrectly and still pass the exam.


What would happen if exams were eliminated or, alternatively, if exam questions were made public?

In this case, we would lose this essential filter, and drivers who should not be on the road would gain access, making traffic (even more) dangerous.

There are approximately 1,000 exam questions in total, covering eight vehicle categories. This is actually a small number, making them relatively easy to memorize. However, the questions do not cover all traffic-related topics and selectively test knowledge. After completing the exam, the student does not see explanations for the questions, meaning that if they answer incorrectly, they do not know why their answer was wrong.

If a future driver memorizes the questions for their category, it cannot be assumed that they are ready to participate in traffic independently and safely. Their knowledge remains incomplete—they know the correct answers to the questions but do not understand the reasoning behind them. Moreover, this fragmented knowledge only covers the topics included in the exam questions. In comparison, today, when taking the exam, you need to know everything because you never know what you will be asked.

2024 has been the most tragic year on the roads in recent years. The year is not over yet, but the number of road deaths (currently 61) and injuries (currently 1,984) has already surpassed previous years. The reasons for severe accidents remain the same—dangerous driver behavior, including speeding, drunk driving, and failure to use safety equipment. Will making exam questions public change someone's character or behavior? Definitely not. On the contrary, more dangerous drivers will enter traffic because learning will become superficial.

Today, any driver can improve their knowledge if they wish. There are driving schools, books, and various online learning platforms. True, nothing is entirely free, but the cost of these services is more than affordable compared to owning a car.

Estonia has never been further from its traffic safety goals, and the trend remains negative. Our goal must be quality driver training and quality examinations—these go hand in hand.

Eliminating exams, either by making questions public or otherwise, would be harmful to society and cannot be justified. Comprehensive driving school courses and high-quality exams must be a firm and mandatory requirement for obtaining a driver's license.