Most injuries and fatalities on the EU’s roads are due to human error or misbehaviour. The European Commission has thus identified improvements to education and training of road users as a key objective of its road safety policy for the period 2011-2020 and a vital factor in achieving the target of halving the number of road deaths in the EU by 2020. Important EU legislation related to driving licences and training of professional drivers is already in place. However, the approach to driver training remains fragmented and an integrated view of road safety education and training is required. This should encompass not only the driving test but also pre- and post-test learning as part of a lifelong process. Initial training received by a learner driver can have a consider-able effect on their subsequent road behaviour. The potential positive impacts of such training could be enhanced by tailoring it to the learner’s individual characteristics. This could in turn be strengthened by aspects such as inclusion of accompanied driving in the process leading up to issuing of licences and introduction of harmonised requirements for instructors. The scope of driving tests could also be widened to evaluate broader skills or aspects such as risk awareness and energy-efficient driving. (Author/publisher)
Abstract