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Hit the road: Tips on learning to drive in Belgium

00:18 14/12/2016
A Brussels driving instructor shares some advice on how to familiarise yourself with Belgium's roads

Passing your driving test is a rite of passage. Not only is it a passport to freedom in your free time, it’s essential for many jobs. If you need to learn to drive in Belgium but are accustomed to the rules of the road in another country – and maybe don’t speak the language – it becomes a bigger challenge.

The Ixelles branch of Auto-école Européenne is one of the top driving schools for expats in Brussels. Instructor Eric Heymans teaches there in English, French and Dutch.

Safety is key, says Heymans, a former insurance manager who sees parallels with his old career: “Insurance is all about security, and safety is what we are about in a driving school.”

The job also requires a little bit of psychology, he explains. “Some people you have to push a bit, some are fine as long as you tell them what to do. When they start, some students are so stressed, you realise that 80% of what you say doesn’t stay in their head.”

Heymans likes to begin lessons in a quiet place, and one of the first skills he tackles is spatial awareness. “You have to look where you want to go and not at the obstacle, such as a parked car or a car coming in the other direction,” he explains. “If you look at bollards when you turn, you will hit them. By looking far into the distance, you open your lateral vision. If you don’t, you can’t see signs and pedestrians and that is a major danger.”

Transferable skills

Skills developed elsewhere can be an advantage, he says. “Cyclists already know their position on the road, people who ski know what it is to take a curve, and artists such as jugglers have advantages too, as do pianists, who are familiar with pedals.”

After acquiring confidence with the steering wheel, Heymans introduces students to pedals and gears. He uses domestic metaphors to explain the mechanics of clutch control. “What happens if two plates come together like this? Bang – you break the plates and you stall.”

For parking, a common problem area for many learners, he recommends forgetting about the car and concentrating on parking the right rear wheel. “If you park the right rear wheel correctly, the left wheel will be parked correctly at the back and you can turn the front wheels.” Passing on such tricks is an important part of the job, Heymans says.

“That’s what you get from a driving school that you don’t get by learning from parents.” Before obtaining a provisional licence, learners need to pass a theory exam. This multiple-choice test is in French or Dutch, but a translation service is available. Heymans: “The translator reads out every question and answer, so if you already understand some French or Dutch you have more time to answer.”

How it works

Under the Belgian system, after 20 hours of lessons at a driving school and a proficiency certificate, learners can drive on their own for up to 18 months before passing their theory and practical tests. In the last lesson the instructor will check that they can manage the car safely for themselves and others before signing them off. For some, though, extra hours are necessary. “That’s an extra expense, so I’ll give them a few tricks such as parking, which will never be a danger, so they can practise on their own. Then they can come back to the school for an evaluation before taking the test,” he says.

Older learners may need extra tuition. “There’s no question that if you start when you’re under 30, or even under 25, it’s a lot easier. But if you’re older and a cyclist, knowing the road signs is already a big advantage.”

Heymans sees more difficulties for those coming from countries with poor infrastructure. “If there is no money for road signs, for example, or pedestrians have right of way, you may have a completely different style of driving, so adjusting can be difficult and take more time than for a new driver,” he says.

For those from countries where they drive on the left, it can take two or three lessons to become familiar with using a gear stick with the other hand.

What does Heymans think about Belgium’s reputation as a tricky country to drive around? “Driving rules are not strictly enforced, so we have a lot of traffic offenders,” he admits.

One of the difficulties is that not everyone is familiar with the rules. “People who started driving before 1968 never had to take the test. Regulations have also changed over the years and the government is not doing enough to update the general public.”

But he thinks the situation is getting better, and he plays his part in improving road signs. “At least once a day I find a sign or road marking that’s not in accordance with the code. I take a picture and send it to the authorities and post it to the website fixmystreet.brussels; I’ve already ensured that about 200 places have been rectified,” he says with a laugh.

Behind the wheel

Medical student Johanna Wedekind from Germany is one of Eric Heymans’ learners. She has been living in Belgium with her family for five years.

“Taking driving lessons is cheaper here than in Germany, and the system of having 20 hours of lessons and then being able to drive seemed to be very simple and a fast solution to getting a licence. I took the theory test in German, in Eupen. I’ve completed 20 hours of driving with Eric, which means I don’t need any more lessons. I got his approval as a safe driver, meaning I can get a provisional licence, though I will have to wait three months before I can take the actual driving test.

"What I find most difficult is keeping track of all the street signs. They change within short distances and are very important to consider for your own safety and other people’s, which puts a lot of pressure on you. In Brussels, it seems as if some people don’t follow simple rules like pedestrian crossings or giving people priority.

"And many seem to drive a lot faster than they’re allowed to, though this is probably common in other countries, too. But whatever other drivers do, it’s important to focus on yourself, as a learner, and adjust according to the signs you see. It’s also important not to panic in uncomfortable situations. The key is to slow down, concentrate and keep driving carefully.”

This article first appeared in The Bulletin Newcomer autumn 2016

Written by Sarah Crew

Comments

joysmithss

Driving license is obligatory for students in Belgium. Once a student is accepted at the uni, s/he must pass the driving test immediately. There's no way to buy it, as freshmen can buy essay cause they are allowed to, when they pass their first term papers.

Feb 10, 2017 10:23