Brussels practical driving test: failed after examiner told me to stop at yellow light

[Rider]

Hello,

I recently took my practical driving test in Brussels and failed after only a few minutes. I'm wondering whether the failure was justified and whether it would be worth contacting the chief examiner.

I had already failed the risk perception test once (I was unprepared), so this was my last attempt before having to take an additional 6 hours of driving school lessons.

Right after leaving the parking lot, I was driving at around 15–20 km/h with a large truck behind me. As I approached a traffic light, it changed from green to yellow when I was approximately 3–4 metres away. My instinct was to continue through the intersection, because I felt that braking at that distance could be risky and might leave me stopped on the pedestrian crossing.

However, the examiner told me to stop. Because of that instruction, I braked and ended up with the car partly on the pedestrian crossing. The examiner then told me to return to the test centre because the exam was over.

On the result sheet, the reason given was: Failed - intervention of the examiner because of lights or injunctions. So the stated reason was the examiner's intervention, not the fact that I stopped on the crossing.

I understand that perhaps I should have reacted sooner and stopped before reaching the crossing. However, from my perspective, when the light turned yellow I believed it was safer to continue than to brake abruptly, especially with a truck behind me. Had I continued as I initially intended, I believe I would have cleared the intersection without any problems. But from what the examiner said in the car, I had time to break...

What makes me frustrated and uncertain is that, from what I have read online, crossing on yellow is not automatically considered an eliminatory fault, whereas crossing on red is. Since the examiner instructed me to stop at the yellow light, and that intervention was recorded as the reason the exam was failed, I am wondering whether this was sufficient grounds.

Would it be worth writing to the chief examiner to ask for a review, or is it likely that the examiner's judgment would simply be accepted? On one hand, I feel that I may have been failed unfairly. On the other hand, I'm worried that making a complaint could mess up my relationship with the exam centre or the examiner as I have to return there in the future.

Unfortunately, I have no evidence regarding the exact speed, distance, or timing, so it would essentially be my word against the examiner's assessment.

I'd appreciate any advice.

[bert.covens]

If you disagree with the decision made, a good conversation with the chief examiner is actually the first step you can take immediately after your exam.

However, always try to calm down first so that you can remain polite.

As long as you remain polite, no one can hold anything against you. And then this will have no further impact on any subsequent exam attempt.

You can also always go to the Appeals Committee.

However, there appears to be a difference between the Flanders Region and the Brussels Region in this regard.

In the Brussels Region, apparently, you can only file a complaint starting from your second attempt at the public road driving exam.


Here is all the information you need :

https://be.brussels/en/transport-mobili ... -licence-b

You failed the public road test twice and wish to lodge an appeal

After two unsuccessful attempts in the public road test section of the practical exam, you may lodge an appeal by registered letter with the Appeals Committee of the region where you took the exam.

Under penalty of inadmissibility, the appeal must be submitted by registered letter within 15 days from the date of failure to pass the exam. For the Brussels-Capital Region, you must send your appeal to:

GOB - Brussel Mobiliteit - Directie Voertuigen en Goederenvervoer
Ter attentie van de Voorzitter van de Beroepscommissie
Iris Tower, Sint-Lazarusplein 2
1035 Brussel

You must pay a fee together with the submission of the appeal to account number BE26 0912 3109 2829 with the reference: DWV/Appeal/NameFirstName

16 euros for an appeal regarding a practical exam category B
12.50 euros for an appeal regarding other categories
With the notice of appeal, you must, under penalty of inadmissibility, include the following documents or information:

Proof of payment of the fee
Your name, first name, and date of birth
The examination center where you took your exam and the date
The facts relating solely to the persons and the circumstances of place, time, and procedure under which the exam was taken (your motivation and the statement of grounds for appeal)
Your signature on your appeal
Proof of registered mail sending your appeal to the examination center