Road safety
From next year, anyone convicted of a serious traffic offense may be required by the court to take a reintegration course. “That leads to real behavioral change,” says Mobility Minister Gilkinet.
More than 100,000 Belgians saw their driving license revoked last year after a serious traffic violation. The vast majority of them appear to be stubborn: 86 percent are later convicted again. Moreover, one in three traffic accidents involves someone who has been at fault before.
Repeat offenders are already punished more severely than drivers who are before the police judge for the first time. Anyone who commits another violation within three years will be faced with a longer driving ban and will have to retake the theoretical and practical driving test. A medical and psychological examination will also follow.
Reintegration course
Today the government will decide on a new weapon that judges will have at hand from next year: the reintegration course. This will replace or supplement re-taking the driving tests. “An educational approach is more effective and leads to real behavioral change,” says Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), who took the initiative for the new scheme.
In concrete terms, you will end up in a support group with ten to twelve fellow sufferers, which meet twice for four hours. A teacher guides the ‘dialogue and exchange of experiences’ to help you gain better insight into your behavior and the danger you pose to others. There are modules for driving under the influence and for dangerous driving behavior such as mobile phone use. In the event of a speeding violation, in addition to the lessons, a two-hour practical component is also provided.
At their own expense
The training costs 250 to 350 euros, but the judge can decide to deduct that cost from the (very heavy) fines imposed for such traffic violations. “This way the judge can take the financial situation of the offender into account,” says Gilkinet.
The lessons are inspired by examples abroad: such courses have existed in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, among others. Research by Vias showed that the risk of recidivism after such a course is 41 percent lower than for those who receive a ‘classic’ sentence.
“Once the courses have been set up across the country, an information campaign will be organized for all magistrates to better inform them about these options,” it said. That establishment is planned for 2024.
