ASK AN EXPERT: What's behind Czechia's new mandated therapy for road rage?

If your driver’s license is revoked due to dangerous behavior on Czech motorways, you will have to complete a mandatory therapeutic program for aggressive drivers to get it reinstated. These programs will set you back CZK 11,000.

Falling under a recent amendment to the Road Traffic Act, this new mandate took effect on April 1. The Methodological Center will oversee the program, which prepares and coordinates therapeutic programs for drivers and is overseen by the Ministry of Transport.  

According to the ministry, the Czech Republic was the last European country where these driver therapy programs were not regulated by legislation. 

We asked Pavel Greiner, owner of Prague-based driving school Autoškola KING, to break down who will need to undergo a therapy program and what they can expect from these sessions.   

Those who refuse to undergo an examination to determine if they were under the influence of alcohol or another addictive substance while driving a motor vehicle or riding an animal will also be ordered to complete a therapy session.         

New drivers prone to risky behavior would greatly benefit from signing up for a therapy program voluntarily.   

The Ministry of Transport sets the 11,000 CZK fee to enroll in a therapy program. A program consists of five four-hour meetings generally held in the afternoons to accommodate participants’ work schedules. There is a one-week break between each meeting. No more than 12 participants can enroll in a therapy program at a time. Accredited lecturers lead the programs.

You will not have to take a final exam to receive a certificate of completion, as these programs are more therapeutic than education. You will, however, be expected to be an active participant. 

The therapy programs will center around lecturer-led discussions about, for instance, the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Participants will be asked to strategize how to change their behavior when behind the wheel. These programs aim to make drivers more aware of the natural consequences of their actions. 

Once they complete a program, participants can download their certificates of completion. You can register for a therapy program through the Methodological Center’s website. Programs are currently in the Czech language.