First aid training no longer required for Brussels driving test

First aid training will no longer be compulsory for taking the driving test in Brussels from 15 August.

The requirement for first aid training was introduced on 1 November 2018, with the costs borne by the Brussels region.

“The abolition of the compulsory first aid training was initially driven by cost-saving measures, but other arguments also support our decision,” Brussels Mobility said.

The aim at the time was to provide motorists with basic training so that they could respond when they came across road accident victims, with an emphasis on the importance of the first few minutes following an accident.

“No study has demonstrated the positive effects of first aid training on road safety,” said Brussels Mobility.

“In a sense, this is logical. Someone involved in an accident is often in such a state of shock that they don’t know how to provide assistance.”

Brussels was the only region in Belgium where first aid training was compulsory to obtain a driving licence.

“The compulsory training was a limited introduction with no further follow-up, whereas a full first aid course lasts two days and is followed by an annual refresher course,” Brussels Mobility said.

“With a view to the widespread dissemination of first aid knowledge, it’s therefore more beneficial to offer a comprehensive course in secondary and higher education, just as is done in the workplace.”

To obtain a driving licence in Brussels, one must first pass a theory test and then a practical test, which consists of a risk perception test and a road test. The first aid training was compulsory between these two tests.

Anyone taking the practical test before 15 August must still be able to present a certificate of first aid training. After that date, the certificate will no longer be required.