Driving licenses in the EU: new rules, penalties, and changes for drivers
Kyiv • UNN
Changes to driving license issuance rules have been agreed upon in the EU, strengthening penalties for serious violations, which will apply in all EU countries. Digital licenses are also being introduced, and the age for bus drivers has been lowered.
An agreement has been reached in the EU with the European Parliament on changes to the driving license directive. It is expected to strengthen penalties for drivers for serious violations. However, there are also a number of relaxations.
UNN reports with reference to Polska Agencja and Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
The new EU driving license rules stipulate that in the event of serious accidents, the revocation of driving licenses will apply to all 27 EU member states. The European Parliament will return to negotiations on this topic on Wednesday evening.
Context
There is mutual recognition of driving licenses between EU countries, but there is no common withdrawal. The idea is that the withdrawal of a driving license from a citizen of one country in another EU member state will be respected throughout the EU.
The corresponding decision will be recorded in the Resper system and will be visible in other countries.
Other decisions: changes regarding individual categories of vehicles, driving licenses and medical tests
The EU will not require mandatory medical tests before obtaining a driving license. However, the EU will be given the opportunity to make medical tests mandatory at the national level if they deem it necessary. Representatives of the European Parliament and the governments of the member states still have to agree on this.
The presiding Poland and the European Parliament have agreed on a fifteen-year validity period for category A and B driving licenses throughout the EU.
No later than 2030, a single digital driving license should be introduced for all EU citizens.
It was also agreed to lower the minimum age for category D drivers (i.e. buses) from 23 to 21 for holders of an accelerated certificate of professional qualification. The decision is related to the shortage of professional drivers, writes PAP.
Another element of the pan-European reform is the extension of the practice of accompanied driving to the entire European Union. Young drivers should be able to gain supervised driving experience at an earlier age.
It also refers to a probationary period for new drivers, regardless of age
This refers to the establishment of a two-year probationary period. Every new driver will face stricter penalties for traffic violations during the first two years.
In the future, drivers of two-wheeled vehicles will be able to drive their light motorcycles with an engine capacity of up to 125 cubic centimeters (this refers to category B-196) abroad. Currently, the regulation is recognized only at the national level.
Recall
Ukrainians actively use the service of replacing driving licenses through 'Diia'. The service is available for various needs, including the expiration of the validity period.