Risk training (riskutbildning) is a compulsory part of getting a category B licence in Sweden. Learners usually call the two parts Risk 1 (riskettan) and Risk 2 (risktvåan, or halkbanan). Many people are unsure when to book them, what happens during the courses and whether they are tested like an exam. This guide answers those questions using the current rules from Transportstyrelsen and Trafikverket.

What is risk training?

Transportstyrelsen requires that you complete risk training before the driver tests for category B. The course has two parts:

  • Part 1 (Risk 1) covers alcohol and drugs, fatigue in traffic and other high-risk behaviour.
  • Part 2 (Risk 2) covers, among other things, speed, safety and driving in different road and weather conditions. Skid-pan training (halkbana) is part of this course.

The aim is not to teach you exam answers. The aim is to help you understand how serious crashes happen and how ordinary choices, such as driving a little too fast or driving tired, can remove your safety margin.

The key timing rule: both parts before the theory test

This is the point many learners get wrong. Trafikverket states that you must have done both parts of the risk training before the theory test, and that the training must be valid when you arrive. Risk training is not something you can leave until after the theory test and squeeze in before the driving test.

If you turn up at the theory test without valid risk training registered, you will not be allowed to take the test, and Trafikverket still charges the test fee.

Risk 1: behaviour, alcohol, drugs and fatigue

Risk 1 focuses on human behaviour. For many learners it feels more like a guided discussion than a lesson. Topics usually include how alcohol and other drugs affect judgement and reaction time, how fatigue builds up, how passengers and peer pressure influence decisions, and why people take risks they know are wrong.

The course is most useful when you connect it to your own situation: late evening drives, stress, passengers who encourage speed and the feeling that you are ready before you actually are. These themes also appear on the theory test under personal conditions and traffic safety.

Risk 2: speed, safety and slippery roads

Risk 2 is the practical part. For car learners it is known for the skid pan, but it is broader than skidding. You experience how speed affects braking distance, steering and control on a low-friction surface, and how quickly a situation that feels controlled can become impossible to save.

The value is not learning tricks on a slippery track. The value is feeling with your own body why Swedish driving education keeps repeating the words margin and speed adaptation.

When should you book Risk 1 and Risk 2?

Because both parts must be finished before the theory test, work backwards from your planned theory date:

  • Book Risk 1 once you have started theory study and understand the basic licence process. It does not require driving skill.
  • Book Risk 2 once you can handle the car calmly in normal traffic, so you can focus on the lesson instead of the controls, but early enough that it is completed before the theory test.

If you study at a driving school, the school registers you for the risk training. If you practise privately, you contact a risk training provider yourself. Courses can be fully booked, so book with a margin before your planned theory date.

How long is the risk training valid?

Transportstyrelsen states that risk training is valid until the day you get your driving licence, or for at most five years. If five years pass before you get your licence, you need to do the training again. Note that motorcycle risk training does not count for a car licence.

Is Risk 1 or Risk 2 a pass or fail test?

No. The risk courses are not graded exams like the theory test. You attend, take part and complete the course with an authorised provider, and the provider reports that you have done it. Still, take the course seriously and arrive rested, because you need to actually complete it for it to be reported.

Typical mistakes with risk training

  • Waiting until after the theory test. Both parts must be completed and valid before the theory test.
  • Booking Risk 2 too early. If you are still struggling with basic car control, you get less out of the practical course.
  • Assuming any risk course counts. Motorcycle risk training does not count for category B.
  • Forgetting the five-year limit. If your licence process drags on, old risk training can expire.
  • Not checking registration. Ask the provider to confirm completion has been reported before your test date.

FAQ

Do I need Risk 1 and Risk 2 before the theory test in Sweden?

Yes. Trafikverket says both parts of the risk training must be completed, and still valid, before you take the category B theory test.

How long is riskettan valid?

Risk training is valid for at most five years, and it stops being valid on the day your driving licence is issued.

Can I do Risk 2 before Risk 1?

The official rules we found only require that both parts are completed and valid before the tests. Providers may have their own booking order, so check with your driving school or course provider.

Connect the risk courses with your theory study

The topics from Risk 1 and Risk 2, such as alcohol, fatigue, speed and slippery roads, are also tested on the theory test. Körkort Hero has practice questions on these topics in 16 languages, so you can check what you learned on the course against the kind of questions Trafikverket asks.

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