Filenews 26 February 2024
The European Parliament will vote on the new EU rules on driving licences on Wednesday 28 February, while the debate will start a day earlier (Tuesday 27 February). The plan foresees driving licences for motorcycles, cars and tractors valid for 15 years and equivalent for trucks and buses for 5 years.
MEPs also call for mandatory health checks for drivers when driving licences are issued or renewed. To support the single European market, MEPs call for the creation of a digital driving licence available on mobile phones and fully equivalent to paper licences.
They also propose a two-year probationary period for novice drivers, who would face harsher penalties for unsafe driving and stricter limits on alcohol consumption.
The explanatory memorandum states that road safety has been one of the most important policies of EU transport legislation for almost 20 years. The Commission wants to strengthen drivers' skills and knowledge by amending the rules on training, testing and testing of stakeholders, in particular as regards new technologies.
The proposal also addresses risky behaviour – in particular by novice drivers – on the road and also aims to safeguard drivers' physical and mental fitness by introducing stricter medical procedures across the European Union. In addition, the proposal seeks to remove obstacles that applicants for or holders of driving licences may face, in particular in relation to difficulties arising during driving tests due to lack of knowledge of languages or lack of continuity in the validity of certain rights due to a change of residence in the EU.
The rapporteur Karima Delli (Greens, France) wants to introduce a system of driving licences based on penalty points throughout the European Union. The implementation of such a mechanism, combined with effective control measures, could lead to a significant reduction in the number of road accidents and fatalities. Most EU countries have such a system at national level and the rapporteur believes that it is fully justified to extend such a system to all Member States.
The rapporteur wants to introduce a new category of driving licence – category B+ for cars over 1.8 tonnes – which can be obtained by applicants after a two-year probationary period for a category B licence and only from the age of 21 onwards.
The category B driving licence will allow a person to drive a passenger car with a maximum weight of 1.8 tonnes. However, derogations will be provided for professional reasons or for specific uses (e.g. emergency vehicles).
Moreover, European and national statistics are clear on young people's predominant exposure to road accidents. The rapporteur therefore considers that the flexibilities offered by the current text and the proposal, which allow Member States to lower the minimum age for certain categories of driving licences, should be removed.
Although accompanied driving should be encouraged throughout the European Union, the rapporteur is not in favour of the proposed provisions concerning accompanied driving, for reasons of consistency in relation to the issue of the age of obtaining a driving licence. The rapporteur also proposes to raise the minimum age for obtaining an A1 driving licence.
The rapporteur also considers that the administrative validity of non-professional driving licences should be maintained at a maximum of 10 years. Taking into account the need to deal with road accidents involving novice drivers, the administrative validity of their licences should be reduced to a maximum of two years, and thereafter those drivers should be required to undergo refresher courses on driving behaviour. In addition, from the age of 60, administrative power must also be reduced to ensure that drivers are fully capable of driving.
Medical examinations
Mental and physical health is also vital for driving. For this reason, the rapporteur is not in favour of self-assessment of driving ability, as proposed by the Commission. A mandatory medical examination should be introduced for all persons wishing to obtain or renew a driving licence.
With regard to novice drivers, the rapporteur calls for specific measures on speed limits and encourages Member States to introduce stricter rules for such drivers, for example with regard to night driving or penalties resulting in penalty points or deduction of points.
The rapporteur also supports the establishment of a harmonised framework for trainers across the EU, as well as for the training of candidates. The rapporteur also proposes to place particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable users, as well as economic-eco-driving. Finally, it would like to see a sufficient length of time for the examinations to properly assess candidates' abilities.
