Our story
"After every road confrontation, I kept thinking: what a shame, we should have been able to talk it through."
The spark
For years, Emmanuel commuted daily between Brussels and Mons for work. Courteous behind the wheel, but when faced with bad faith, he quickly lost his temper. The result: regular arguments with other drivers. Sometimes he was wrong, sometimes it was the other. But every time, the same bitter realisation: we should have been able to talk it through calmly. We would have come out better for it, learned something, and improved our driving.
The cycling wake-up call
Back in Brussels, Emmanuel became a daily cyclist. And it started all over again — not a day without friction with a driver. Insults, banging on bonnets, fleeing for fear of being chased. And always that same feeling: if we could have talked calmly afterwards, we would have acknowledged each other's mistakes and been more careful next time. It was from this combined experience, as a driver then as a cyclist, that PlateWave was born.
And Emmanuel is the first to acknowledge that cyclists also make mistakes — running red lights, riding without lights, weaving between cars. PlateWave isn't here to prove one side right. It's a dialogue tool for all road users.
When you argue on the road, everyone digs in and nothing moves forward. You drive off more aggressively and become a danger to others.
From frustration to reflection
PlateWave transforms a moment of anger into a learning opportunity. Instead of shouting in the moment, you send a message afterwards — and the other person can read it calmly, without a bruised ego.
Road safety through dialogue
Every undiscussed incident is an incident that will happen again. PlateWave creates a feedback loop: report, understand, correct. The goal is not to punish, but to help everyone improve.
AI as peacemaker
We all know what it's like to write in the heat of the moment. PlateWave's AI takes your anger and transforms it into a message the other person will want to read — and therefore take to heart.
What we see every day — from ALL sides
- ! Not using indicators — A cyclist or pedestrian can't guess your intention to turn. Without indicators, it's an accident waiting to happen.
- ! Opening doors without looking — Check your mirror before opening. For a cyclist, an opening door is potentially a serious fall.
- ! Using your phone while driving — Even "just a quick look" at a red light. The distracted driver pulls away without seeing the pedestrian crossing.
- ! Passing a cyclist too closely — The law requires 1.5 m of lateral distance. Many ignore this, creating a deadly hazard.
- ! Parking in the bike lane — "Just two minutes" that force the cyclist to swerve into traffic.
- ! Ignoring pedestrian crossings — Not stopping when a pedestrian is waiting to cross.
- ! Running a red light on a bicycle — It's illegal and dangerous. A cyclist running a red light endangers pedestrians and creates tension with drivers.
- ! Riding without lights at night — An invisible cyclist or scooter rider at night is a deadly danger to themselves and drivers who can't see them.
- ! Crossing while staring at your phone — Pedestrians and cyclists alike, distraction at the wrong moment can be fatal.