EU Implements New Driving License Regulations to Enhance Road Safety
Provisional agreement reached on uniform disqualification and digital licenses across EU member states.
On Tuesday evening, negotiators from the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement concerning new regulations aimed at enhancing road safety across the European Union.
The agreement introduces measures to ensure that when a driver loses their license due to a traffic offense in one EU country, that penalty will be enforceable in the home country of the driver, benefiting the overall safety of road users throughout the EU.
Currently, penalties for traffic offenses committed by drivers registered in different EU states are often only applied in the country where the offense occurred.
The new regulations mandate that EU countries must share information regarding driving disqualifications associated with serious offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, causing fatal accidents, or significantly exceeding speed limits.
This communication must be conducted without unnecessary delay.
The European Parliament secured a framework within this agreement requiring member states to inform drivers about disqualifications within 20 working days, including the process for contesting such decisions.
Furthermore, the European Commission is tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of these regulations five years post-implementation, with the potential to expand the list of offenses that would trigger EU-wide penalties.
In tandem with disqualification enforcement, the update also encompasses revisions to the EU driving license directive, significantly focused on improving road safety, given that approximately 20,000 lives are lost annually on EU roads.
As part of these reforms, drivers will now be better educated on managing driving conditions, including risks associated with phone usage, awareness around vulnerable road users, and navigating inclement weather.
A significant innovation is the introduction of a mobile digital driving license, which is intended to become the primary format by 2030. Member states are allotted five years and six months to implement this technology while still allowing drivers the option to request a physical license.
New provisions will establish a two-year probation period for novice drivers, during which stricter rules regarding alcohol consumption and safety practices will be enforced.
Countries are encouraged to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards drinking and driving.
Additionally, to address the shortage of professional drivers, the minimum age for obtaining truck and bus licenses will be lowered, allowing for more flexibility in the transport sector.
If ratified, the reforms will update the validity period for driving licenses, requiring renewals every 15 years for cars and motorcycles, while professional licenses for trucks and buses will need renewal every five years.
Drivers’ health evaluations will also become mandatory prerequisites for obtaining a license, with specific assessments focusing on eyesight and cardiovascular health.
The agreement requires further approval by both the EU Council and Parliament, with member states given four years to incorporate the new rules into their own legal frameworks.
These reforms stem from a broader road safety package introduced by the European Commission in March 2023, which aims to achieve zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 as part of the ‘Vision Zero’ initiative.
The agreement introduces measures to ensure that when a driver loses their license due to a traffic offense in one EU country, that penalty will be enforceable in the home country of the driver, benefiting the overall safety of road users throughout the EU.
Currently, penalties for traffic offenses committed by drivers registered in different EU states are often only applied in the country where the offense occurred.
The new regulations mandate that EU countries must share information regarding driving disqualifications associated with serious offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, causing fatal accidents, or significantly exceeding speed limits.
This communication must be conducted without unnecessary delay.
The European Parliament secured a framework within this agreement requiring member states to inform drivers about disqualifications within 20 working days, including the process for contesting such decisions.
Furthermore, the European Commission is tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of these regulations five years post-implementation, with the potential to expand the list of offenses that would trigger EU-wide penalties.
In tandem with disqualification enforcement, the update also encompasses revisions to the EU driving license directive, significantly focused on improving road safety, given that approximately 20,000 lives are lost annually on EU roads.
As part of these reforms, drivers will now be better educated on managing driving conditions, including risks associated with phone usage, awareness around vulnerable road users, and navigating inclement weather.
A significant innovation is the introduction of a mobile digital driving license, which is intended to become the primary format by 2030. Member states are allotted five years and six months to implement this technology while still allowing drivers the option to request a physical license.
New provisions will establish a two-year probation period for novice drivers, during which stricter rules regarding alcohol consumption and safety practices will be enforced.
Countries are encouraged to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards drinking and driving.
Additionally, to address the shortage of professional drivers, the minimum age for obtaining truck and bus licenses will be lowered, allowing for more flexibility in the transport sector.
If ratified, the reforms will update the validity period for driving licenses, requiring renewals every 15 years for cars and motorcycles, while professional licenses for trucks and buses will need renewal every five years.
Drivers’ health evaluations will also become mandatory prerequisites for obtaining a license, with specific assessments focusing on eyesight and cardiovascular health.
The agreement requires further approval by both the EU Council and Parliament, with member states given four years to incorporate the new rules into their own legal frameworks.
These reforms stem from a broader road safety package introduced by the European Commission in March 2023, which aims to achieve zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 as part of the ‘Vision Zero’ initiative.
