Filenews 25 April 2023
All new driving licences will be renewed every ten years, and when we travel to EU countries and drive, their authorities will have access to our personal data through the creation of an information exchange network.
At the same time, at a pan-European level, minimum standards will be implemented for skills and knowledge, up to and including intellectual ability to obtain a driving licence.
In addition, an EU-wide medical screening procedure will be put in place to determine whether we are fit to drive, which will contribute to road safety within the Union.
It is not a work of terror but a promoted EU directive, which is being debated next Thursday before Parliament's Committee on Transport.
This includes the introduction of a "uniform model European Union driving licence, which will be mandatory for all drivers from 2033", which means that anyone who does not comply will not be able to drive in the EU.
An accompanying document states that "the Directive establishes a legal basis for the storage of a mandatory set of personal data" which covers what is necessary to prove a person's right to drive, identify them and verify their driving rights and identity. As mentioned, one of the objectives is to ensure greater protection against fraud and forgery.
In the same document, it is revealed that there is also "driving license tourism". As mentioned, it concerns the practice of changing residence in order to obtain a new driving licence, for example in order to circumvent the deprivation of driving licences in the country of origin of the drivers concerned. In fact, as mentioned, the above phenomenon is "widespread" and even causes negative effects on road safety. It intends that "drivers should not be exempted from the requirements imposed on them to recover their right to drive or driving licence by changing their place of residence".
Measures promoted include classifying driving licences according to vehicle types and minimum driving ages, as well as simplifying the administrative burden on drivers who change their place of residence to another Member State.
Regarding the medical screening process across the EU, it is observed that it will be improved to better contribute to the achievement of road safety targets, while it is noted that "in many serious accidents resulting in death, serious damage to health and non-fatal injuries, the skills, knowledge, behaviour and health status of drivers are an important factor.
There are, it adds, many holders of driving licences whose presence on EU roads poses risks due to their unfitness to drive.
It is further stated that the age at which a person can drive is a factor that must be taken into account. "Some studies have concluded that certain medical conditions, such as substance abuse, mental illness, epilepsy and diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea, are not necessarily associated with age."
It recognises that skills and experience (especially for novice drivers) are important safety factors and adds that the higher level of accidents and fatalities of novice drivers shows that driving licence requirements are not fully adapted to road safety objectives.
