Brussels, 19/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, CDU MEP Dieter Koch discusses the controversy surrounding the review of the EU driving licence directive that aims to introduce a new EU credit-card sized plastic licence. The European Commission's draft directive is being discussed by a European Parliament committee this week and an exhibition will open in Brussels this week with the Verband der Technischen Uberwachsungs-Vereine e.V. chaired by Hans-Nikolaus Rindfleisch. The exhibition of the 110 types of driving licence valid in the EU demonstrates the utility of a uniform EU licence, particularly for combating fraud, said Rindfleisch.
Dieter Koch listed controversial areas of the new rules, like the fact that fact drivers will be given as long as they want to exchange their old licence for the new EU licence. The Commission and Council are not in favour of this, and neither is Koch or most of the European Parliament's Transport Committee (see Europe of 9 October 2004, p.10, on the Council's views). If this becomes law, Koch said it would take a twenty year transition phase. The Council wants car and motorbike driving licences to be renewed every ten years and lorry and bus licences every five years, but MEPs are divided over this. Another controversial idea is introducing a new type of licence for mopeds. On the grounds of subsidiarity, Koch said he agrees with the Council's opposition to the Commission's suggestion of making drivers over 65 have a compulsory medical examination every five years. Contrary to popular belief, said Koch, old car drivers in good health cause fewer accidents than young people, and compulsory medical examinations should be targetted at specific groups of old drivers, the way they are currently targetted at disabled and learner drivers.