International projects
Promoting CONSENSUS in assessing driving ability of PSN through common methodologies and normative tools
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Currently, there is a total lack of standardisation methods and tools used for the evaluation of the fitness to drive of disabled people. Only the establishment of a Thematic Network Group on a pan-European scale would be able to offer the necessary width of expertise and the critical mass to overcome local assessment practices and procedures and to converge to commonly accepted practices and tools with pan-European applicability. CONSENSUS aims to develop a Network of Excellence to systematically exchange information on driving ability assessment of Disabled people, promote relevant technology transfer within EU and access to expertise and resources of highly specialised Centres to other less specialised country authorities, using state of the art Telematics tools and procedures and even developing new IST support tools (database and expert knowledge tool).DESCRIPTION OF WORKThe work starts with the expansion of the initial CONSENUS Network and its support mechanism. Three different types of bodies will be established, the Steering Committee, which is composed of 10 full Members, a Network Plenary Board with 5 Working Groups (on classification schemes, user problems, assessment tools and methodologies, IST support tools, recommendations and standardisation respectively) and a User Forum, encompassing many actors from different user group categories. The actual work of the Network will start with the establishment of a common PSN problems and residual abilities classification in relation to the driving task, as well as a uniform set of criteria, for PSN driving ability assessment for pan-European adoption. A common minimum set of evaluation tools and a uniformly assessment methodology will be agreed upon. Two specific IST tools will be developed, namely an Internet-based assessment tools / practices database and an expert knowledge assessment tool, to facilitate the use of the above defined common assessment methodology. Last but not least, a concise dissemination, public awareness and user (PSN) acceptance scheme will be formulated and followed throughout the project in order to promote the use of the project's proposed common evaluation framework by all PSN driving evaluation Centres in EU and beyond, the acceptance of this framework by PSN people and their relatives and the awareness of the society as a whole towards the needs of PSN drivers. This strategy employs project leaflets, posters, an interactive WWW site, allowing the shared and concurrent use of the assessment tools by Network members, a code of Good Practice on PSN driving ability assessment and two pan-European workshops, one early and one late on the projects lifecycle.MILESTONES? PSN driving ability classification and codification scheme and relevant terminology.? Common PSN driving ability assessment criteria.? Common set of assessment tools and guidance on their proper use.? Common PSN driving assessment methodology.? Assessment database.? Expert knowledge tool.? Code of Good Practice on PSN driving ability assessment.? Network viability schemes.
