Flemish mobility minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) has given the green light for self-driving Teslas on public roads, an authorisation that applies to Flemish-registered vehicles on all Belgian roads, including those in Brussels. Xavier Lesenne, De Ridder’s spokesperson, said this was not unusual: “The reverse is also true. If a new vehicle or driver-assistance system is approved in Wallonia or Brussels, it’s also valid in Flanders.” But while the Walloon and Flemish authorities are said to have consulted one another on this decision, the approval
came as a surprise to Brussels mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), who said the region harbours concerns. “We were not consulted on this,” said Els Wauters, a spokesperson from her office. “We also have some concerns about safety, particularly following the publication of a critical study on the matter.” Wauters referred to an investigation by Reuters news agency at the end of May, which casts doubt on Tesla’s low reported accident figures and is based on statistical research and interviews with former Tesla
employees. Vias, the Belgian road safety institute, said the decision had been rushed and still raised many questions. “It gives the driver the impression that the car does everything,” said Benoit Godart, spokesperson for Vias. “However, at all times, it’s important that the driver is able to take back control of the vehicle and therefore, naturally, isn’t drinking a coffee, watching a football match or reading their emails. It will be the driver who is held responsible in the event of an incident or accident.”
Tesla will roll out its system in phases and with interim evaluations. Belgium is the fifth country to allow it, after the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark. After the Netherlands authorised Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, tests were also carried out in Flanders. These proved successful, prompting De Ridder’s decision to approve the technology for general use on public roads. Technically speaking, Flanders is adopting the Netherlands’ approval, pending a final European decision expected on 30 June. “The Dutch approval was preceded by a period
of intensive testing,” said De Ridder. “We therefore did not have to start from scratch. Thanks to the effective collaboration of our Dutch colleagues at the RDW (National Road Transport Authority), we had access to all their test data, and a shortened trial period was sufficient to assess the differences in road infrastructure and traffic regulations between the Netherlands and Belgium.” According to Tesla, the technology is up to 10 times safer than a human driver. “The system employs a defensive driving style and, in
certain situations, can react more quickly and consistently than human drivers,” De Ridder said. The driver must, however, still be behind the wheel to be able to intervene, and remains ultimately responsible. The federal government has no jurisdiction in the matter of allowing the self-driving vehicles and merely provided the test licence plates during the trial phase, said the office of federal mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). The full self-driving option costs a one-off fee of €7,500 or a monthly fee of €99. For
the time being, consumers can still choose between the two options, but soon only the monthly subscription will be available.
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