Overview
CONSENSUS provides driving assessment and feasibility of constructing the Network itself and reaching consensus on pan-European level at medium term. CONSENSUS is a pan-European initiative to exchange practices, experiences and tools in the area of driving ability assessment of people with motor and light cognitive disabilities. Based on the identification of the pros and cons of each national or even local system, effort will be devoted to identify the feasibility and basic concept of a concise pan-European People with Special Needs (PSN) classification in relation to the driving task, on common sets of criteria for the relevant driving ability assessment, systems to apply these criteria and tools to measure them.
- To develop a Thematic Network on driving ability assessment of PSN, covering EU and Associated States, and make efficient use of IST technologies as a basis for network communications and concepts diffusion;
- To review in a concise way the relevant functional classifications, assessment practices and tools followed currently in 10 European countries and beyond;
- To develop specifications for telematic aids (such as shared databases, expert knowledge and/or pre-selection decision tools, driving simulators, virtual environments, etc) for their use within new optimised assessment practices;
- To propose a framework towards reaching consensus on common PSN functional classification schemes, assessment methods and tools, taking into account also the specified above IST aids and tools;
- To achieve consensus upon the proposed assessment framework and related findings not only between Network Members, but also within the relevant PSN society, their relatives, carers as well as rehabilitation aids and car manufacturers.
Formulation of the Thematic Network and its necessary support mechanism, which initially includes 11 Members (project participants) and established a variety of telematic tools to provide quick (real-time), reliable and cost-efficient communication between the Network members (such as databases, expert decision tools, rapid selection tools, driving simulators, virtual environment simulations, etc.) were proposed for supporting the PSN driving assessment activities and their relevant requirements was fully specified.
In parallel, a systematic review of existing PSN classification schemes, assessment procedures and tools regarding driving ability was performed in all participating countries and beyond. Commonalities and gaps between the various national schemes were recognised and a common methodology on achieving consensus on them was formulated, making also use of the above specified telematic tools.
Funding
Results
- An IST Thematic Network on driving assessment of PSN, specification of appropriate knowledge management tools for it and viability scheme for its future extension;
- Compendium of PSN classification schemes, assessment methods and relevant criteria and tools in 10 European countries;
- Recognition of differences and gaps and action towards establishing consensus;
- Pan-European workshop on the issue.
Technical Implications
An IST Thematic Network on driving assessment of PSN, specification of appropriate knowledge management tools for it and viability scheme for its future extension.
Policy implications
In 2002 the expert members of the Driving Licence Committee expressed the opinion that the Annex III of Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences has to be updated. Annex III is dealing with minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle and, in fact, its contents are based on decisions made more than twenty years ago. There was therefore a need to find more consistency between the legislation and the current medical knowledge.
Thus according to a request of the Driving Licence Committee in 2003, three priority items have been addressed regarding the fitness to drive: eyesight, epilepsy and diabetes. In this context three specialised medical groups of physicians representing their Member State have been set up and worked between March 2004 and June 2005. You will find below the results, conclusions and recommendations of the eyesight and epilepsy working groups in their final reports which remain for the moment working documents.