MISTEL was set up in February 1998 as an Institute of the Department for Social Work and Health Promotion of the University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal. Aim of MISTEL/SPI Forschung gGmbH is development, initiation, facilitation and implementation of research and development projects. MISTEL/SPI (Magdeburger Institut für Supervision, Training, Evaluation) has been engaged in social scientific research especially in the field of addiction (prevention, treatment, morbidity), road safety linked to alcohol and drugs prevention.

During the next three years MISTEL is going to implement a PEER-project at driving schools in Saxony-Anhalt/Germany. This federation-province-cooperation project has been already implemented in eight German federal states. As well as in nine other countries: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain.

 

Peer educators will discuss with young driving beginners dangers of alcohol and drug consumption in connection with road use. These peer units will be located in driving schools and designed as open 60-to-90-minutes discussions. Together with the driving students and novice drivers, the educators will develop individual and manageable strategies and rules of traffic participation. The youngsters will not face grown-ups (teachers, police officers, driving instructors etc.), so that it will facilitate open discussion of difficult road safety topics (experience with the consumption of alcohol). By conducting the peer units on a regular basis at driving schools we are planning to reach a high number of young persons, which will have an impact on the reduction of road fatalities.

Duration of the commitment: 3 years.