Risk awareness training (RTK) expands from 8 hours to 12 hours on 1 October 2026. The change applies to everyone whose driving test is in October 2026 or later – including those who started their course earlier. Here is what changes, who it applies to and what you should do now.
What is changing
Following the reform of the Driving Licence Act, the scope of risk awareness training is being expanded. The aim is to strengthen drivers’ ability to recognise traffic risks and to allow more time for practising the current course content.
| Part | Currently | From 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Theory lessons | 4 hours | 7 hours |
| Driving lessons | 4 hours | 5 hours |
| Total | 8 hours | 12 hours |
In practice, three theory lessons and one driving lesson are added to the course.
The share of simulator training will be capped
From now on, simulator training may account for no more than half of the driving lessons, that is, at most 2.5 hours out of five. The rest of the driving lessons are always driven in a real car in traffic.
This is worth keeping in mind if you were planning to focus your driving lessons on the simulator. We will go through with you how your lessons will be divided under the new requirement.
New content is added sparingly
Not many new topics are being added to the training. Most of the additional lessons will be spent studying the existing content in greater depth. However, new content includes, among other things:
- in theory lessons, the specific characteristics of vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg that run on alternative power sources
- in driving lessons, a revision lesson that also covers vehicle automation
Does the change apply to you?
What counts is the date of your driving test
What matters for the change is when your driving test takes place – not when you started your course.
Driving test passed by 30 September 2026
You can complete the training under the current content and number of hours. Note that both the training and the driving test must be completed and passed by that date.
Driving test on 1 October 2026 or later
You must complete the training according to the new requirements. From that date on, completing the new 12-hour training is a prerequisite for taking the driving test.
This also applies if you have already taken the driving test before 1 October 2026 but retake it after that date.
You have already completed RTK under the old scope
The training you have already received will not go to waste. It can be used to replace the parts with the same content, and the hours corresponding to the training already given, in the training required under the new rules.
In practice, for most people this means an additional three theory lessons and one driving lesson. If your driving lessons have focused on the simulator, you may need more practical lessons in a car to make up the difference, as the proportion of simulator-based training will be limited to half.
The exact amount of supplementary training required depends on what you have already completed.
Supplementary training at Autokoulu Pasila
We are ready to provide supplementary training for students who started their training before 1 October 2026 and take their driving test after that date. So you will not have to start the risk awareness training from scratch.
We will update the new prices on our website shortly.
If you are studying on a teaching permit
Risk awareness training may only be given by a driving school. It cannot be completed on a teaching permit, even if you otherwise study for the whole licence with your own instructor. The change therefore applies equally to teaching permit students – for them, too, RTK expands to 12 hours on 1 October 2026.
If you are working towards your licence on a teaching permit and your driving test falls in October or later, book your RTK lessons well in advance.
What to do now
- Check when your driving test is. If it’s in October or later, you’ll need to take the RTK supplementary training.
- If you are still aiming for the old requirements, remember that the driving test must also be passed by 30 September 2026. Schedule the test together with your instructor.
- If you have already completed the old RTK training, please get in touch – we’ll let you know what you’re missing and when the supplementary lessons will be held.
Teaching in line with the new training requirements cannot be provided before 1 October 2026, so the supplementary lessons will be organised from October onwards.
Sources: Traficom, the Finnish Driving School Association. We reserve the right to make changes. Article updated September 1, 2026.