With 37 votes in favour and 5 against, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) have adopted their negotiating position on the directive on driving disqualifications with EU-wide effects (see EUROPE 13281/17). With 35 votes in favour and 6 against, they agreed to begin discussions with the Member States, once the green light has been given at the plenary session in December.
“I hope EU-wide driving disqualifications will reduce the number of road accidents throughout the EU by enabling the punishment of reckless driving abroad, and decrease significantly the number of fatalities caused by excessive speeding, drink-driving, and driving under the influence of drugs”, commented the rapporteur, Petar Vitanov (S&D, Bulgarian), in a press release. “As we work towards Vision Zero, we must also raise awareness that driving is about keeping everyone safe on the road”, he added.
In their mandate, the MEPs propose to extend the list of serious road traffic offences that will trigger the exchange of information on driving bans. They include speeding in zones of less than 30 km/h for roads in residential areas and less than 50 km/h for roads in non-residential areas. In addition to the Commission’s proposal to include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and road traffic offences causing death or serious bodily injury, MEPs are adding driving without a valid licence. They are introducing strict deadlines for EU countries to inform each other and the person concerned of driving disqualifications: no later than ten working days after the decision imposing the driving disqualification.
MEPs want driving bans to apply in all Member States and for more offences to lead to cross-border investigations.
Finally, they propose that the transmission of the certificate and the exchange of other required information between Member States’ national contact points should be carried out via the European Car and Driving Licence Information System (‘EUCARIS’).
As for the EU Council, the transport ministers are expected to reach a ‘general approach’ on this directive at the next Council meeting on Monday 4 December.
To read the compromise amendments, go to https://aeur.eu/f/9vd (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)