Norway's government is working to implement an EU directive that would allow 17-year-olds to obtain a full car driver's license. They would, however, only be permitted to drive with a supervisor present. The plan is set to take effect from November 26, 2028, pending national approval.
Senior advisor Kristin Bentdal Larsen at the Ministry of Transport confirmed the development. "Allowing 17-year-olds to get a driver's license, limited to driving with a supervisor, does not differ significantly from today's arrangement for supervised practice driving," she said. She emphasized the importance of driving experience for reducing accident risk. "It could therefore be positive that young drivers gain more experience," Larsen added. She also noted a crucial distinction: "However, the driver's responsibility must be carefully considered, as it differs from practice driving in that the driver has the responsibility, not the supervisor."
A Safety-First Debate
The proposal has ignited a debate between European harmonization and Norway's domestic road safety standards. The country consistently ranks as one of the safest in Europe for traffic. Critics argue that a change driven by EU rules may not necessarily improve safety at home. Christoffer Solstad Steen, press chief for the road safety organization Trygg Trafikk, expressed skepticism. "Even if the EU adopts this, it is not the case that Norway absolutely must let 17-year-olds take the driver's license test," he said. "Norway is the safest traffic country in Europe, and it is not certain that this improves traffic safety here, as it might in countries that have poorer driver training than us."
This tension highlights a recurring theme in Norwegian policy: adapting EU directives while safeguarding national standards that often exceed European minimums. The core of the government's argument rests on the value of early, formalized experience. The current system allows for extensive practice driving with a supervisor from the age of 16. The new model would essentially formalize this period, culminating in a license at 17 that still requires supervision until the age of 18.
The Legal Shift in Responsibility
The most significant change lies in legal liability. Under the current practice driving system, the supervising adult holds primary responsibility for the vehicle. If the 17-year-old license is introduced, the young driver would bear the legal responsibility for their driving, even with a supervisor in the passenger seat. This shift is a key point of analysis for transport authorities. It aims to instill a greater sense of consequence and maturity in the young driver earlier in their training.
Proponents suggest this could lead to more focused and serious practice sessions. The young driver is no longer just a learner under the wing of a responsible adult but a licensed operator accountable for their actions. This, the theory goes, could accelerate the development of good judgment and defensive driving habits. However, it also raises questions about insurance implications and how this legal responsibility will be communicated and enforced in practice.
Examining the European Context
The move is part of a broader European trend to standardize driver licensing and promote road safety across member states and associated countries like Norway. In several EU nations, allowing 17-year-olds to drive with supervision has been introduced as a measure to combat high accident rates among newly qualified 18-year-old drivers. The logic is that a longer, more structured period of supervised driving leads to better-prepared independent drivers.
Norway's situation is different. Its driver education system is rigorous, and its accident statistics for young drivers are comparatively favorable. This leads safety experts like those at Trygg Trafikk to question the net benefit. The argument is not against supervised driving experience but against lowering the formal licensing age when the existing system appears to be working well. The concern is that a license, even a restricted one, might create a psychological shift or social pressure that could have unintended consequences.
The Path to 2028 Implementation
The proposed implementation date of November 2028 provides a long runway. This period will be used for detailed regulatory development, public consultation, and adjustments to driver education curricula. The Ministry of Transport will need to draft specific regulations outlining the exact conditions of the restricted license. Key details to be determined include who qualifies as a supervisor, potential vehicle power restrictions, and rules regarding passengers other than the supervisor.
Stakeholders from driving schools, insurance companies, youth organizations, and road safety bodies will likely be engaged in this process. The four-year timeline suggests the government is approaching the change cautiously, allowing time to study early results from other European countries and design a system tailored to Norwegian conditions.
A Question of Principle and Practice
At its heart, the debate transcends this specific directive. It touches on Norway's relationship with the EU and the balance between international cooperation and national sovereignty in policy areas where Norway excels. For many, the question is: why fix what isn't broken? Norway's roads are safe, and its young drivers are well-trained. Changing a core element of the licensing system represents a risk, however small, to that hard-earned safety record.
The government's counterpoint hinges on the principle of harmonization and a belief that more structured, responsible experience is always beneficial. They see it as an evolution of the current practice system, not a revolution. By granting a license earlier, they aim to validate the training period and potentially streamline the path to independent driving at 18.
As the 2028 deadline approaches, the discussion will intensify. Will Norway adopt a model that has shown promise elsewhere, or will it hold firm to a system that has made it a European leader in road safety? The final decision will reveal much about how the country navigates the intersection of global standards and local success.