Candidates for obtaining the National Driving License (CNH) em São Paulo are already beginning to experience changes to the practical driving test process. The new assessment, determined by the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), has already begun to be applied by state traffic agencies, such as the State Department of Traffic of São Paulo (Detran-SP).
One of the main changes is the end of automatic qualifying fouls during the practical test. Until then, certain maneuvers — such as errors in the goal — could result in the candidate’s immediate disapproval, even if the rest of the driving was carried out properly. With the new rule, the system starts to adopt a scoring model based on traffic violations.
In practice, the candidate starts the exam with zero points and may accumulate penalties throughout the assessment. Each infraction receives a specific weight. The rules were determined by the new Vehicle Driving (MBEDV) To be approved, the candidate cannot exceed the limit of ten points at the end of the assessment.
- I – weight one: traffic infraction of a minor nature;
- II – weight two: traffic infraction of a medium nature;
- III – weight four: traffic violation of a serious nature; and
- IV – weight six: traffic violation of a very serious nature.
According to transit agencies, the change seeks bring the examination closer to the reality faced by drivers in everyday life on the roads. Instead of automatically eliminating the candidate for an isolated failure, the assessment now considers the general behavior while driving the vehicle.
Another relevant change involves the parking maneuver, the beacon. The maneuver remains present on the exam, however is no longer an isolated and mandatory step with strict execution criteria. Now, it occurs within the route itself and is analyzed by the final result and the way the candidate drives the vehicle during the maneuver.
With the new model, there is no specific movement limit or maximum parking time. The candidate can choose to park forward or backward, as long as they respect traffic rules and maintain safe parking conditions.
The new manual also establishes guidelines to avoid procedures considered inappropriate during the assessment. Evaluators should limit guidance to the essential, avoiding comments that may cause nervousness or induce errors. Furthermore, the race route must include common elements of urban circulation, such as intersections, lane changes and roundabouts, but cannot use rapid transit routes or highways.
Another point addressed by the new rules is the possibility of carrying out the practical exam with vehicles equipped with . The measure follows the growing presence of this type of technology in the national fleet and expands the options available to candidates.
In addition to the changes in the practical test, the theoretical exam also underwent an update. The content of the assessments began to use the National Question Bank, prepared by the National Traffic Secretariat. The bank brings together around 1,500 questions that are used in a standardized way throughout the national territory.
