Who is responsible for compensating the damage to the exam vehicle caused by a student during the test?
3 Answers
When students are learning to drive or taking exams at a driving school, the driving school and the exam center have the obligation to ensure the personal safety of the students during their learning and testing. In such accidents, the driving school or exam center not only bears full responsibility but should also apologize to the student. Relevant information is as follows: 1. Complaint: If the driving school or exam center demands the student to take responsibility, the student can file a complaint with the Transportation Management Bureau, the governing body of driving schools, at the complaint hotline 12328. Alternatively, they can complain to the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Public Security Bureau. 2. Relevant regulations: According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law Implementation Regulations," if a driving school student is driving on the road during the learning period, it should be conducted under the guidance of an accompanying instructor. If the student commits any road traffic safety violations or causes traffic accidents during the learning process, the instructor is responsible. However, during the driver's license test, if the exam vehicle has no issues and there is no instructor accompanying the vehicle, the student should bear the corresponding responsibility after an accident occurs.
When it comes to the issue of test cars being damaged, I've seen quite a few cases over my years as a driving instructor. The responsibility mainly depends on two factors: whether the instructor was in the car controlling the dual controls during the test. Usually, there's an examiner or safety officer in the car during tests, and their job is to handle emergencies. If an accident occurs because the examiner didn't brake in time, the driving school bears primary responsibility. Another scenario is purely due to student error, such as mistaking the accelerator for the brake and stomping on it. In such cases, while the student is at fault, the driving school's insurance typically covers the repair costs, and the student won't actually have to pay out of pocket. However, some driving schools may require students to cover part of the deductible, depending on what was agreed upon in the initial contract. If this happens, don't panic—first, contact the driving school to follow their procedures.
I witnessed the car in front knocking over the test pole during my last driving test (Subject 2)! That examinee turned pale instantly. Later, the instructor told me our driving school had comprehensive insurance for exam vehicles - unless it's intentional damage, students don't need to pay. But the instructor privately mentioned that repeat offenders damaging equipment might get suspended for retraining. Pro tip: The pre-exam paperwork always specifies accident liability. Minor scratches? Don't stress - driving schools handle these situations routinely.
