We would like to work towards building a new Catalan road policy, through which driving improves the quality of life of citizens and reduces the number of traffic accidents and the severity of damage caused.

In order to do so, we are focusing on the following proposals, which are summarised in the action plan:

 

Evaluate the effectiveness of the road safety course for learner drivers, based on our behavioural change model, despite the fact that we have carried out significant research in order to assess the results obtained following the implementation of this programme. We have more than 600 road safety teachers who have implemented this course; as such, we need to continue developing research that demonstrates the effectiveness of the behavioural change model applied during the training of the learner drivers. This project is supported by the Catalan Regional Government, the Home Office and the Catalan Transport Department.

 

Compare the results of the road safety course for learner drivers with the results obtained in other European countries (Finland, Norway, France, Germany and Switzerland) and with the rest of Spain through the Close To project, which incorporates peer mentoring. We have commenced research together with PAU Education based on a sample of 90 learner drivers, but other countries also need to collect data if research is to be carried out on a European scale.

 

Evaluate the effectiveness of the application of the road safety course for professional lorry drivers (CSV-CA) and bus drivers (CSV-AUT) in the framework of official training courses in order to obtain the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). We have designed the two programmes and commenced the training of 20 road safety training teachers who will use these two programmes to teach lorry and bus drivers in the initial training stage and on a permanent basis. This project is supported by the General Secretariat of Territorial Policy and Public Works at the Department of Territorial Policy and Public Works of the Catalan Regional Government, the FECAV (Catalan Transport Federation) and ETRASA (a transport-related publishing company).

 

Analyse the short- and medium-term effectiveness of the courses that represent alternative forms of penalties. We conduct an average of six courses per year, with 20 users per course. We have undertaken research with only 45 users, and need to include all those users who have participated in these courses (over 200 people) and conduct research that helps us to make progress with this group. One of the members of the team is writing a doctoral thesis on the short- and long-term effectiveness of this course. This project is supported by the Catalan Regional Government, the Department for Justice, the Department of Prison Services, Rehabilitation and Juvenile Justice, the Prison Regime and Resources Directorate General, and the Open Environment and Alternative Criminal Measures Sub-Directorate General. 

 

Increase the number of road safety primary education programmes and evaluate and analyse the results obtained through the application of programmes based on behavioural change. We plan to seek research grants from the University and Research Aid Management Agency (AGAUR) in the area of assistance with the development of research and innovation projects in non-university education (ARIE). We also plan to establish a solid group of secondary education teachers, with the support of the educational resource centres in each of the four Catalan regional divisions, to implement the secondary education programmes in order to make progress in these educational fields.