How to better prepare young drivers for the road?

Why were the driver training course and the driving test evaluated?

Better driving training should better prepare young drivers for the road and bring down accident statistics. Research has shown they are involved in more accidents because they are quicker to overestimate their driving skills. That is why the Flemish Government wants to evaluate the driver training in depth and modernise it. The Institute for Mobility of Hasselt University was tasked with the assignment.

How did you tackle that analysis?

The IMOB queried 5,500 people on the measures, from young drivers and aspiring drivers to supervisors, examiners and driving instructors. Professional organisations such as GOCA Vlaanderen (the expertise centre for car inspection) and the VSV (Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge) were also involved in the survey. In addition, the institute analysed a wealth of information, such as pass rates and the number of road accidents, and also conducted an in-depth scientific literature study on the latest insights.

What are the key recommendations?

» Provide one centralised overview of all support resources (such as a website) that aspiring drivers can access. Why? Research has shown that awareness of these resources is often lacking or comes to late. They can do this, for instance, when they book a theoretical and practical driving test, or on request through their driving instructor.

» Introduce a dedicate training session for the supervisors to refresh their knowledge of the Highway Code and for useful tips. They can do this online or via a brochure, for instance.*

» Introduce a longer practice period of at least five months as an admission requirement for the practical exam. International statistics show this brings down the number of accidents.*

The Flemish driver training and the driving test were revamped in 2017. The Flemish Government commissioned an in-depth evaluation from the IMOB, the Institute for Mobility of Hasselt University. More than 50 recommendations were submitted to the Flemish Government. Professor Tom Brijs is more than happy to clarify them.

The lower the threshold to psychosocial support, the better. That is the basic principle of Zipster, a project by software engineer Stijn Coolbrandt and the University of Antwerp. On this digital referral platform care providers need just a few clicks to bring their patients into contact with local welfare actors.

Zipster founder Stijn Coolbrandt: “If care providers suspect their patients are in need of psychosocial support they can turn to the platform, where they can go over a short questionnaire with the patient to quickly detect the underlying issue. Subsequently Zipster proposes organisations nearby that can help. Care providers can refer the patient, subject to his or her permission. On the platform they can also monitor the eventual guidance the patient receives.”

What is Zipster’s biggest asset?

“Zipster lowers the threshold to refer patients to psychosocial support so they can contact the most suitable organisations much faster. Just think of local Public Centres for Social Welfare (OCMW) and CAWs (Centres for General Welfare), or centres that focus on poverty, addiction or employment. Because mental health is at least as important as physical health. Indeed, the more psychosocial issues, the bigger the odds you will also develop physical problems. We want to address this issue.”

What is the added value for scientific research?

Professors Hilde Philips and Hilde Bastiaens (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp):

“We are looking to see what data on the platform we can use to evaluate the referrals. This project is obviously interesting to us because we can research the social added value of the referrals. What do the referrals achieve? Have they effectively improved? The answers to these questions will enable us to upgrade healthcare.”