by Luca Wolfe Murray
In the UK, learning to drive is easy. Apply for a “provisional license” online, and once it arrives, you can start driving with your parents or anyone over 21 who’s held a full license for three years. No classroom. No medical exam. Dangerously optimistic? Maybe.
In Romania, the system is rigid: 30 hours of paid driving school are mandatory. No driving with mum or an uncle in the countryside. Just a registered instructor and a state-approved car. You also need to pass a medical exam that includes physical and psychiatric tests. On paper, it sounds thorough. In reality, it’s a farce. There are some wider lessons there.
Read here the complete story written by Luca Wolfe Murray, a participant in the 2025 Ratiu Journalism Mentorship Programme, under the coordination of Dan Perry.