Vlaams Congres
Verkeersveiligheid
2015
Traffic Psychology in Germany
A close look at the German Traffic Safety System
Dr. Don DeVol
German Society of Traffic Psychology (DGVP)
TÜV Thüringen Fahrzeug GmbH & Co. KG
Topics
1. Statistics
2. Traffic Medicine and Psychology within the German
Legislation
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment (MPA) in Germany
4. Evaluation of Traffic Psychology Measures in Germany
18.03.2015
2
1. Traffic Fatalities in the EU 2001 vs. 2013
250
EU
-54%
DE
-52%
per Mio. Inhabitants
200
150
100
50
0
AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI
2001
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FR HR HU IE
estimated 2013
IT
LT LU LV MT PL PT RO SE SI SK UK
EU 2001
EU 2013
[Source: CARE - EU road accidents database / European Commission – DGET]
3
1. Withdrawals in Germany
180.000
Number of Withdrawals
160.000
140.000
120.000
Withdrawal
in general
100.000
80.000
Withdrawal
due to
alcohol/
drugs
60.000
40.000
20.000
0
2004
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2005
2006
2007
2008 2009
Year
2010
2011
[Source: Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt]
2012
2013
4
2. Traffic Medicine and Psychology within
the German Legislation


Important regulating laws
o
Road Traffic Act – Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG)
o
Driving License Regulation – Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV)
Road Traffic Act – Straßenverkehrsgesetz
o
§ 2: Driving license
o
§ 3: Withdrawal
o
§ 4: Demerit point system
o
§ 21 – 30: Penalty regulations
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5
2. Traffic Medicine and Psychology within
the German Legislation

Driving License Regulation – Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung
o
§ 10: Exception of minimum age (MPA)
o
§ 11: Driving aptitude (MPA)
o
§ 12: Eyesight (medical assessment; MA)
o
§ 13: Driving aptitude and alcohol offenses (MPA)
o
§ 14: Driving aptitude and drug offenses (MPA)
o
§ 46: Withdrawal
o
Annex 4: List of illnesses, handicaps and impairments influencing
driving aptitude
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6
2. Traffic Medicine and Psychology within
German Legislation


Assessment
o
Bus and taxi drivers
o
Drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (MPA)
o
Drivers with multiple traffic offenses (MPA)
o
Handicapped drivers (MA)
Training and rehabilitation programs
o
Novice drivers with one severe traffic offense
o
Drivers with multiple traffic offenses within the demerit point system
o
Drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
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7
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment in
Germany

2013: 94.819 MPAs
Reasons for Medical-Psychological
Assessements 2013
17%
0%
physical illness
drugs
22%
others
7%
first alcohol offense
repeated alcohol offenses
11%
15%
28%
18.03.2015
alcohol offenses and
other offenses
general traffic offenses
[Source: Bundesamt für Straßenwesen; BASt]
8
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment in Germany
Driver
Authority
Applies for regranting
of license
1
2
Chooses MPA-Center
and
undergoes MPA
Doubts driver´s aptitude
and
requires MPA
Examines MPA-expertise
and decides
on regranting the license
MPA
3
Assesses the driver
and sends him
the written expertise
4
9
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment in Germany
MPA
Medical
Examination
1.
2.
3.
Medical history
Physical
examination
Laboratory
analyses
Psychological
performance test
1.
2.
3.
Reaction
capacity
Visual
perception
Concentration
Psychological
Interview
1.
2.
3.
4.
Warming-up phase
Collection of
biographical data
Report on the traffic
offenses
Evaluation of offenserelevant behavior- and
attitude-changes
Evaluation of the findings by the
medical doctor and by the psychologist
10
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment in Germany
MPA
Negative Outcome:



The driver‘s license
cannot be
regranted
Recommendations
are given
according to the
MPA-results
The MPA must be
repeated
2013: 35,9%
Partially Negative
Outcome:


Participation in a
driver improvement
course
Then the driver‘s
license can be
regranted
Positive Outcome:

The driver‘s
license can be
regranted
2013: 57,5%
2013: 6,7%
[Source of the rates: BASt]
11
3. Medical-Psychological Assessment in Germany
12
4. Evaluation of Traffic Psychology Measures
18.03.2015
[Source: BASt]
13
Dr. Don DeVol
DGVP
Many Thanks!