The driving license with points does not seem to be introduced in Belgium, for the time being. The French-speaking socialists (PS) and liberals (MR) are not enthusiastic and have made their own counterproposal, much to the dismay of Vooruit, the party of the Flemish socialists.

“People are dying on the roads because PS and MR refuse to take measures to improve road safety,” dixit Vooruit MP Joris Vandenbroucke.

Counterproposal based on four axes

The Vivaldi government agreed on the coalition agreement to commission a study on the effect of a driving license with points on safety. The results for introducing a driving license with 12 points are positive, but two of the seven governing parties are not overflowing with enthusiasm, as was the case in the past.

A government note that the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad was able to see shows that PS and MR have made a joint counterproposal. According to the newspaper, it involves a package of measures around four axes: a database of offenders, increasing the chance of being caught, sensitizing motorists, and increasing penalties.

Bill is ready

Vandenbroucke is unapologetic about this. “Above all, both parties are afraid they will lose voters. There are 500 deaths and 55 000 injuries in our country every year,” he said on VRT radio. “We have made agreements to deal with that. MR and PS must respect those agreements made. They should now explain publicly why they are blocking such a measure and why they lack the courage to implement agreements made.”

Vandenbroucke will raise the issue in the Chamber and a bill is also ready from MP Jef Van den Bergh (CD&V).

Alternating majority

Opposition party N-VA, meanwhile, suggested a switch majority. “If the dossier still gets on the agenda via the bill, we will enter the debate constructively and with an open mind,” said MP Wouter Raskin. “And if a good proposal convinces us, we will then also gladly offer an alternative majority that frees us from this community hold grip.”

Too strict

In an interview with La Capitale newspaper, MR Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval clarifies why he is against the introduction. “It’s a relatively severe proposal since it would automatically remove three points from the license of citizens who, for example, exceeded the speed limit by 20 kph. Four offenses of this kind would, therefore, cost them 12 points, and they would lose their license, which is pretty harsh.”

Clarinval also touches on the example of France. “700 000 French motorists drive without a license, and this is the case of 6% of drivers involved in a fatal accident. The points-based license, therefore, has the perverse effect of increasing the number of people driving without a license.”

According to Clarinval, the system also penalizes drivers who are often on the road, putting professionals at a higher risk of losing their work tool, and the initiative misses its target against road pirates.