Filenews 21 October 2025 - by Ioanna Kyriakou
Almost 20,000 lives are lost annually on the roads of the European Union. With the aim of reaching 0 by 2050, the European Parliament approved on Tuesday (21/10) the introduction of stricter and more modern rules for European driving licences, an important step towards improving road safety and creating a stronger and more effective control and enforcement system.
To obtain a licence, the practical and theoretical examination should now include training on the dangers posed by blind spots, how driver assistance systems work, how to safely open the doors of one's vehicle and how dangerous it is to use a mobile phone while driving. Also, the new standards for driver training and examination will place greater emphasis on the risks concerning pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
The new rules will enter into force on the 20th day following their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States will have three years to transpose the provisions into national law and an additional year to prepare for their implementation.
What changes with driver's licenses
The new driving licences will be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, while member states will be allowed to reduce the validity to 10 years when the licence is used as a national identity card. For trucks and buses, the validity will be five years. Member states will also be able to reduce the validity for drivers over 65 to undergo more frequent medical checks or take refresher training courses.
Before obtaining or renewing the license, drivers should undergo a medical checkup, which will include a vision and cardiovascular health examination. Member States will, however, be able to replace medical screening with self-assessment forms or other national assessment systems.
Trial period for beginner drivers
For the first time, a minimum probationary period of at least two years is introduced for young drivers, who will be subject to stricter rules and penalties when driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing a seat belt or using child seats when children are in their vehicle.
In addition, 17-year-olds will be able to obtain a car driver's license, but will only be allowed to drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they turn 18. To address the shortage of professional drivers, 18-year-olds will be able to obtain a truck license and 21-year-olds will be able to obtain a bus license, as long as they have a certificate of professional competence. Without it, the age limits would remain at 21 and 24 years respectively. Given that 2 out of 5 fatal collisions involve drivers under the age of 30, this measure is particularly important.
Digital driver's licenses are coming
Among the new elements introduced are digital driving licences, which will be accessible from mobile phones or other digital devices and will be used across the EU. The aim is to gradually become the main form of driving licence in the EU. In such cases, the authorisation should be issued without undue delay and, as a rule, within three weeks. To implement this, the Commission is oriented towards the establishment of a legal framework by all states in order to have a mutually recognized driving license, but this will be delayed as it will be implemented by 2030. It is worth noting that MEPs ensured that drivers will continue to be able to apply for their license in paper form.
Withdrawal of driving licenses in all member states
The new directive on the withdrawal of the right to drive is also important. It ensures that reckless drivers will not be allowed to drive in any EU country. In particular, when a country decides to revoke someone's licence, it must quickly inform the country that issued the licence so that they can enforce the penalty and ensure that it is respected across the EU. The rules focus on driving licence withdrawal for very serious offences, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding (for example, exceeding the 50 km/h speed limit) or causing a fatal accident.
Road deaths in the EU
Road safety data show that road deaths are gradually decreasing across the EU, but progress remains slow. In fact, most EU countries are not on track to meet the targets, making it clear that further efforts are needed to improve road safety. In particular, EU data on road deaths show that:
- Around 19,800 people were killed on the streets in 2024
- About 100,000 people are seriously injured in road accidents each year
- around 52% of fatal accidents in the EU took place on rural roads, 38% in urban areas and 9% on motorways in 2023
- About three-quarters of the people killed in road accidents in 2023 were men.
