The Myth of “Equal Opportunities” – Why the CBR Relocation to Geleen Does Lead to Unfair Competition

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The frequently heard argument that the CBR’s move to central Geleen would not lead to unfair competition, because everyone is playing by the same rules, raises serious questions. For what rules are we actually talking about here, and for whom are those rules truly the same? On paper, it sounds logical: one central location, equal access for everyone. In practice, however, the choice of a single location inevitably also means exclusion. Whereas previously multiple examination centres ensured a spread and a certain balance, everything is now concentrated in one place. This does not make the system fairer, but rather more susceptible to inequality. Because ‘central’ is not an absolute concept, but entirely dependent on perspective. What is central for a driving school in Sittard or Geleen is by no means central for a driving school in, for example, Margraten, Vaals or Eijsden.

It is often argued that differences in travel time have always existed, and that is true in itself. The crucial difference, however, is that these differences were previously manageable, precisely because there were several test centres available. Driving schools could prepare their pupils locally, tailored to the specific test area. With the centralisation to Geleen, travel time is no longer a variable but a structural inequality. This also shifts the underlying question: who will ultimately pay for this extra travel time? The answer is obvious: the learner.

In practice, this means that a student picked up in, say, Margraten or Cadier en Keer is already spending half an hour travelling to Geleen, and another half hour returning after the lesson. That’s an hour’s travel time per lesson, even though the student is paying for two hours. In effect, this may leave only one hour of actual lesson time. In other words: a course package is used up considerably faster, without the quality of the training improving. This effect is further exacerbated by the structurally higher costs for driving schools located further away from Geleen. More kilometres mean higher fuel costs and more time lost, which is inevitably passed on to the learner. This creates a situation where not every driving school operates from the same starting point, and so competition is, by definition, not on an equal playing field.

It is therefore to be expected that many driving schools will be forced to adapt their working methods and, in future, require learners to travel to a central pick-up point, such as Beek/Geleen station. What causes hardly any problems in the Randstad, with its well-developed public transport network, presents a significant obstacle in South Limburg. The region is characterised by scattered villages and a less extensive public transport network, meaning that learners from these areas have to invest a disproportionate amount of extra time and effort. This raises the barrier to starting driving lessons, not by choice, but due to a policy decision.

The claim that a central location is, by definition, fairer therefore does not hold water. This line of reasoning appears to be based primarily on theoretical averages and accessibility by car, whilst essential factors such as public transport and geographical distribution are overlooked. ‘On average, more accessible’ is not, in this case, synonymous with fairer.

In addition, consideration must also be given to the practical implications of concentrating all driving schools within a single examination area. In South Limburg, this involves hundreds of driving schools that were previously able to prepare their pupils locally for the practical test. As a result of centralisation, all these driving schools will be forced to focus on Geleen and the surrounding areas. This will inevitably lead to increased traffic congestion, intensive use of the same practice locations and nuisance for residents. Where there used to be a natural spread, there is now an artificial concentration of driving lesson traffic.

The conclusion, therefore, is that the assertion that everyone is playing by the same rules does not hold water in this case. The move to a single central location not only changes the logistics, but fundamentally shifts the playing field. Unequal travel times, rising costs and reduced accessibility mean that not every driving school and not every learner has the same starting point. And when that starting point is not equal, there simply cannot be fair competition.