CNH at 16? Understand the new rules of the CTB reform that advances in the Chamber

Traffic legislation in Brazil may undergo one of the biggest reformulations in recent years. This is because a special committee of the Chamber of Deputies is preparing to analyze the reform of the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), which includes topics such as CNH for 16-year-olds, regulation of autonomous cars and changes in license rules.

The report on Bill 8085/14, prepared by Deputy Aureo Ribeiro (Solidarity-RJ), brings together more than 270 changes in the current legislation. The text brings together projects presented over the last 16 years and seeks to modernize the CTB, with adaptations to new technologies, forms of mobility and inspection requirements.

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Last Wednesday (17), the federal deputy read his opinion and presented a substitute that consolidates most of the projects and suggestions collected during the debates in the committee. In this article you can check in detail what are the changes planned so far.

CNH at 16 years old: how will it work?

One of the most debated proposals in the report is the creation of a special type of Driving Permit (PPD) aimed at adolescents aged between 16 and 18 years.

Proposed rules for young drivers include:

• Category restriction: authorization valid only for categories A (motorcycles) and B (cars).
• Rules for cars (Category B): circulation will be restricted to urban roads and between 5 am and midnight. In addition, the young person must be accompanied by a driver of legal age who has been licensed for at least two years.
• Rules for motorcycles (Category A): driving will be restricted to models up to 150 cm³ of displacement.

Regulation of autonomous cars and new mobility

The current Traffic Code has a legal gap on new driving technologies. Therefore, the reform aims to create a legal basis for the circulation of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems.

In addition to smart cars, the text updates the guidelines for new urban transport, establishing clear rules for the use of electric bicycles and individual mobility equipment, such as scooters.

Driver training: more driving lessons, traffic schools and autonomous instructors

The CTB reform also proposes to establish directly in federal legislation the requirement of at least five practical class hours to obtain the CNH in categories A and B. This amount differs from the workload of two class hours (previously there were 20) that was recently established with the CNH do Brasil.

The text also provides that driving schools will be officially called Traffic Schools, but that they will continue to be companies accredited by Detrans and responsible for theoretical and practical training and recycling courses.

The performance of autonomous instructors is still allowed, with the novelty of permission for them to act as Individual Microentrepreneurs (MEI) in categories A and B. This release takes place as long as instructors use vehicles with dual brake control and class monitoring system, but they will not be able to teach practical driving lessons to candidates under 18 years of age.

Mandatory psychological examination on all renewals

The qualification process may also gain two other changes:

• National Driver’s Record: creation of a unified system for medical and psychological evaluations, facilitating the sharing of driver restrictions between states. Drivers with a good record in the registration of positive drivers will have automatic renewal, but health exams remain mandatory.
• Expanded psychological examination: psychological evaluation, currently required mostly in the first license or in specific cases, will become mandatory in all CNH renewals. Doctors and psychologists may also reduce the validity period of the exams if they detect signs of progressive diseases or physical and mental disabilities.

Cheaper DMV fees, free definitive license, Social CNH and other changes

The report by Deputy Aureo Ribeiro also includes the following points:

• Ceiling for fees: Creation of a national limit for the amounts of administrative fees charged in the qualification process. The fees will be R$ 30.00 for the opening and issuance of the PPD in any category, and R$ 50.00 for each exam taken, whether written or driving.
• Free definitive CNH: automatic and free issuance of the definitive CNH for drivers who complete the probationary period (PPD) without committing serious or very serious infractions or are not repeat offenders in medium infraction.
• Expansion of the Social CNH: program will be financed by the allocation of 5% of the value of traffic fines collected in each state and in the Federal District. The funds will be deposited in specific state funds and will cover all fees and expenses related to the process of forming and issuing the document.

Are all these changes already in effect?

None of the measures proposed by the report are in force. The text still needs to be debated and voted on by the special committee of the Chamber of Deputies. If approved, it will follow the traditional procedure of processing in the National Congress (Chamber and Senate) before being sanctioned and becoming law. Until this entire process is completed, the current rules of the Brazilian Traffic Code remain in force.