According to the Shanghai Morning Post, a growing number of learner drivers are having to pay up to 10 percent more at local driving schools.
   
The report says that more than ten well known driving schools in the city have raised prices by an average of 300 yuan, or US$36, from the middle of this month, with a maximum increase of 900 yuan, over US$110.
   
The highest increases are for Santana sedans, up from 4,500 yuan before the National Day holiday to the current 5,700 yuan.
   
The article says new driving tests in October this year have driven up costs by an average of two or four million Yuan.
   
The increased difficulty of the new test has led to an extension in learning time from two months to about three months, and surging fuel prices are also a burden for driving schools.
   
However, the price hikes have not deterred locals from learning to drive. Over 130,000 people in Shanghai learned to drive in 2001. That figure is expected to reach 250,000 this year.

(CRI November 17, 2004)