Brussels Ends Mandatory First Aid Training for Driving Licenses

Brussels is scrapping its mandatory first aid training requirement for driving license candidates, effective August 15, 2026 — a policy reversal that ends nearly eight years of a rule that made the Belgian capital an outlier in Europe. The decision, announced by Brussels Mobility, is driven primarily by budgetary savings but also reflects the agency’s doubts about the training’s effectiveness in improving road safety.

A Regional Exception Comes to an End

Since November 1, 2018, anyone seeking a driver’s license in the Brussels-Capital Region had to complete a basic first aid course — known as “Premiers Secours en Route” (PSER) or “EHBO-opleiding” — before taking the practical driving exam. The training, which consisted of a theoretical component completed online and a three-hour practical session, was free for candidates, with the Brussels-Capital Region bearing the full cost.

Brussels was the only Belgian region to impose such a requirement. Flanders and Wallonia have never mandated first aid training for drivers. Across Europe, only Austria maintained a similar rule, making Brussels one of just two jurisdictions in Europe with this obligation.

Why the Change?

According to Brussels Mobility, the decision was “initially motivated by savings,” but the agency also cited several other arguments supporting the change.

“No study has demonstrated the positive effects of first aid training on road safety,” Brussels Mobility stated. “That is logical in a way: a person involved in an accident is often too much in shock to know how to provide help.”

The agency further argued that the mandatory course was a “limited initiation without further follow-up,” whereas a full first aid course lasts two days and requires annual refreshers. “With a view to general dissemination of first aid knowledge, it is therefore more interesting to offer a full course in secondary and higher education, as well as in the workplace,” Brussels Mobility added.

Emergency Response Times as a Factor

In a supplementary argument, Brussels Mobility noted that emergency services in the Brussels-Capital Region have the fastest response times of any Belgian region, with professional help arriving within 10 minutes on average. This, the agency suggested, reduces the practical need for bystander first aid in traffic situations — a factor that further undercuts the case for mandatory training.

What Changes for License Candidates?

Candidates taking their practical driving exam before August 15 must still present proof of completing the first aid training. After that date, no proof will be required, effectively removing one step from the licensing process.

The other requirements for obtaining a Brussels driver’s license remain unchanged: candidates must still pass a theoretical exam, a risk perception test, and a practical driving test on public roads. The first aid training was the only component being eliminated.

Broader Context and Implications

The decision comes amid broader budgetary pressures on the Brussels government. Since 2018, the region had been funding the training for approximately 20,000 candidates annually through the Red Cross, which delivered the courses. The exact savings from ending the requirement have not been disclosed, but the cumulative cost over nearly eight years represents a significant expenditure.

Critics may argue that even a basic first aid initiation could save lives in the critical minutes before professional help arrives. The original 2018 policy was introduced with the stated goal of giving drivers basic skills to respond to traffic accident victims, emphasizing that the first minutes after a crash are often crucial. However, Brussels Mobility now contends that the training’s limited scope was insufficient to produce lasting competence, and that people in shock are unlikely to apply the skills effectively.

What’s Next?

The change highlights the growing divergence between Belgium’s three regions on driving license requirements — a consequence of the sixth state reform that transferred road safety competencies from the federal government to the regions in 2014. Each region now sets its own rules, creating a patchwork of requirements that can confuse candidates who move between regions.

While Brussels moves to align with Flanders and Wallonia by dropping the first aid mandate, the agency has suggested that broader first aid education in schools and workplaces would be a more effective approach — though no concrete policy commitments or timelines have been announced. The question of whether first aid knowledge among drivers will decline as a result of this change remains open.

For now, Brussels driving license candidates will have one fewer administrative hurdle to clear, while the broader debate over the best way to ensure road safety and emergency preparedness continues across the region.