Life has changed significantly over the course of three years. After two years of COVID-19 and a year of war in Ukraine, several aspects of French society no longer function as they used to. Some changes are structural and were already planned in advance, such as the process for applying for a vehicle registration certificate, while others are more complicated to explain, like the shortage of driving instructors in driving schools. Here are some of the difficulties faced by drivers in Nice.
Energy Issues
As if there were not enough energy problems, French refineries have recently experienced staff strikes, which have reduced the ability of the French to obtain fuel for private cars for several weeks now. Although the situation is more challenging in the north of the country, it still affects the entire territory. This is one of the difficulties faced by drivers in the region, which only adds to the others.
But not everything is entirely bleak. In fact, there have been structural changes that mean that today prefectures are no longer authorized to process vehicle registration requests. Why is this a good thing? Private organizations can now issue the registration certificate more quickly, eliminating the need for people to wait inside the prefecture for hours. By responding to an online questionnaire, the registration certificate will be prepared and delivered to the owner without them having to travel. A notable advantage, especially as other processes for driving a car are deteriorating, such as obtaining a driver’s license.
Being Patient to Get a Driver’s License in Nice
Patience is a virtue that future drivers in Nice are well acquainted with today. Indeed, following the effects of the health crisis, in its aftermath, it took several months for learner drivers to complete their driving school training and pass the final exam. Initially, it was accumulated delays due to lockdowns, but it quickly became apparent that there was now a shortage of instructors for the number of students requesting them. Indeed, as in many other sectors, the number of people returning to the instructor profession significantly decreased post-COVID. The only way that schools found to recruit was to poach instructors from competitors, which did not, of course, solve the shortage.
Today, major driving schools are also facing the fuel shortage across France. Although they try not to delay the exam dates for those approaching them, they are still forced to cancel certain driving classes due to the lack of fuel, just like any other company and individual in France. The end of the crisis is on the horizon, which will help improve the lives of car drivers in Nice and the rest of the country, of course.
