Representatives of the transport industry and MEPs discussed the road safety package at an exchange of views organised by the EPP on Wednesday 7 June. The European Commission’s proposal was welcomed, but a number of points of disagreement were also raised.
This initiative, presented in March (see EUROPE 13132/1) is divided into three parts: - revision of driving licence legislation; - cross-border exchange of information on road traffic offences; - EU-wide driving disqualifications in the event of a serious accident or offence.
Michael Nissen of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC), the German automobile club, said that “the proposal is a step in the right direction”. In particular, he welcomed the planned provisions for driving licences, which “will improve freedom of movement and road safety”. However, he felt that some of the restrictions were unnecessary, such as the ban on towing a caravan for a licence held less than 2 years. He also considered that the probationary period of at least 2 years for novice drivers after passing the test was too long.
He also opposed limiting or reducing to 5 years or less the administrative validity of driving licences for holders aged 70 or over. “The accident rate among the elderly has not been proven”, he said, citing a study carried out in Switzerland.
The EPP MEPs present, Elżbieta Łukacijewska (Polish), Markus Ferber (German), Benoît Lutgen (Belgian) and Marian-Jean Marinescu (Romanian) shared these doubts. The Commission’s representatives replied that the 70-year threshold was also explained by the risk that senior citizens represent for themselves.
Mitra Qurban, from the German company Deutsche Post DHL, and Raluca Marian, from theInternational Road Transport Union (IRU), welcomed the measures aimed at giving young drivers the opportunity to obtain a HGV licence.
“This is an important opportunity to tackle the chronic and growing shortage of drivers, which has many causes”, said Ms Marian. In her view, young people are not given the opportunity to become drivers early enough; at 21 or 24 - the current minimum age for C and D licences - so they will choose another career.
Antonino Avenso, Director of the European Transport Safety Council, is opposed to lowering the age. “Allowing young people to drive vehicles travelling at more than 45 km/h is not a good thing”, he said.
Ms Marian also mentioned drivers from third countries and called for harmonisation between European law and the law of the countries where these drivers come from.
From an institutional point of view, the European Parliament should soon publish the reports on the Commission’s proposals. The Council of the EU is also at a technical working stage (see EUROPE 13132/1, 13193/4). (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)