Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Council reached a provisional political agreement on Tuesday night (25 March) on the revision of the Driving Licence Directive (see EUROPE 13606/5).
“Thanks to this update, the rules on and issuing of driving licences will be smarter, more inclusive and fully adapted to our digital society, while at the same time ensuring an important positive impact on the EU’s road safety”, Dariusz Klimczak, Poland’s Minister of Infrastructure, was delighted to say in a press release.
By the end of 2030, a uniform digital driving licence will be available for all EU citizens, placed in the future ‘European Digital Identity Wallet’, recognised in all EU Member States. Road users who so wish will have the right to request a physical driving licence. Both physical and digital versions will be valid for driving passenger cars and motorcycles for longer than at present, namely 15 years from the date of issue. In countries where the driving licence is used as an identity card, it will be valid for 10 years.
When issuing and renewing driving licences, Member States will require either a medical examination or a screening based on a self-assessment. This harmonises the medical requirements for drivers.
The rules governing probationary periods for novice drivers have also been harmonised, and set at a minimum of two years. During this probationary period, stricter rules or penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs should apply, without prejudice to Member States’ powers to regulate drivers’ behaviour.
“By lowering the driving age for certain vehicles, we will be able to make up for the shortage of drivers and boost our economic activity”, Valérie Devaux (Renew Europe, French) stressed in a press release. All Member States will have a system of accompanied driving for car licences (category B), and those wishing to do so will be able to offer this system for heavy vehicles (category C).
The rules on emergency vehicles have also been revised, with clearer definitions for police, ambulance, fire, civil protection and defence vehicles. Voluntary drivers will now be able to drive these vehicles with a standard category B licence, after undergoing additional training or passing a test.
Finally, adjustments will also be made to make it easier for citizens to acquire a driving licence for passenger cars when they live in a Member State other than the one of which they are a national.
This provisional agreement must now be approved by Member States’ representatives within the Council (Coreper) and by the European Parliament in plenary session.
With the successful conclusion of these negotiations, those on driving disqualification, which are linked, will continue on the evening of Tuesday 25 March, with a view to also reaching an agreement (see other news). The ‘road safety’ package would then be adopted in its entirety. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)