Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Driving tests in Roeselare and Wevelgem were postponed due to snow. Local schools cancelled lessons and urged clearer test guidelines.
This morning, on 9 January, the practical driving tests at the exam centres in Roeselare and Wevelgem were delayed for several hours because of winter weather. In southern parts of the province, roads were slippery due to overnight falling snow that extended into the morning. The chief examiner decided to postpone exams to ensure candidate’s and examiners’ safety while it would not be safe enough to conduct those tests on slippery roads. It was in line with the regular standards that allowed a test to be cancelled or re-scheduled whenever the weather became unsafe.
How are local driving schools responding to winter weather challenges?
The Kortrijk Driving School decided to cancel motorcycle lessons after a certain time the night before because the roads were becoming too dangerous for bikes. Instructor Hervé Bultinck said it wasn’t safe to continue with motorcycle lessons in those conditions. He added that car lessons were not as affected since cars usually handle slippery roads better than motorcycles. The driving schools and exam centres stayed alert, making changes to their schedules to ensure safety for everyone involved during the winter weather.
According to Bultinck, their vehicles are equipped with winter tyres to handle tough weather, but yesterday’s conditions were too risky for motorcyclists. While most driving schools continued with their lessons, many took a winter break for motorcycle training. In West Flanders, there are only two places for motorcycle driving tests, and in Roeselare, tests are only available from March to October. Meanwhile, in Bruges and along the coast, the Topper driving school was able to carry on with motorcycle lessons since the weather was better. However, some exams had been cancelled earlier in the week due to high winds and slippery roads.
Driving schools demand clearer guidelines for driving tests
Driving schools are pushing for clearer guidelines on when driving tests can be conducted, as decisions often rely on the head examiner’s judgment, which can be inconsistent. Instructors feel that while safety is essential, there are situations where exams could still proceed, and having set criteria, like a specific wind speed, would help. Some schools also complain about late cancellations, which can frustrate candidates. GOCA Flanders acknowledges these concerns but points out that it’s challenging to establish fixed rules due to varying weather conditions and factors like slipperiness and visibility that are hard to measure.
There are many factors that play a role in deciding whether the weather is good enough for a driving test. It is difficult to capture this in a few guidelines.
Steven Raes, GOCA Flanders
Raes emphasises the important difference between driving lessons and driving tests, especially during winter weather. In lessons, both the student and instructor have more flexibility. The instructor sits next to the student and can take control of the car if necessary. This setup helps ensure safety on slippery or icy roads. Raes notes that driving in winter conditions can actually benefit students by improving their car handling skills and teaching them how to navigate challenging weather. The presence of the instructor makes these lessons much safer.
The situation changes a lot during a driving test compared to lessons. In a test, the examiner just watches the candidate and can’t help if something goes wrong. This makes it riskier, especially in bad weather. If a candidate struggles with icy roads, the examiner can’t step in to ensure safety. Raes highlights that driving tests are more serious than lessons, especially in poor weather. Because of this, it’s often seen as unsafe to do a driving test when conditions are bad, which is why examiners might postpone or cancel tests if the roads are too dangerous.
