European Parliament calls for changes to the regulation of driving licenses to improve road safety

With more than 20,000 lives lost every year on EU roads, Parliament supports the reform of European driving license rules to contribute to road safety and the EU’s green and digital transition.

MEPs want drivers to be better prepared for real driving conditions and to be aware of the risks, especially to the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, children, cyclists and electric scooter users. For this reason, they propose driving on ice and in slippery conditions, safe phone use while driving, blind spots, driver assistance systems, and making sure it is safe to open vehicle doors for the permit exam.

Card validity and pre-medical checkup

Parliament believes that licenses to drive motorcycles and cars should be valid for fifteen years, in the case of trucks and buses for five years. MEPs do not support reducing the validity of the elderly card, as proposed by the Commission, in order to avoid discrimination and guarantee this group’s right to freedom of movement and participation in economic and social life.

The Chamber supports drivers to have their fitness to drive assessed before license issue and renewal. MEPs propose that Member States decide whether the self-assessment should be replaced by a medical examination which includes, inter alia, a check of vision and cardiovascular conditions. But they also want countries to do more to raise awareness of the mental and physical signs that can indicate risk while driving.

According to the EP proposal, inexperienced drivers would have to undergo a testing period of at least two years, during which they would be subject to certain restrictions, such as strict limits on alcohol consumption and higher penalties for dangerous driving.

Given the shortage of professional drivers, MEPs also support allowing access to permits for trucks or buses carrying up to 16 passengers from the age of 18, once a professional training certificate has been obtained. If the driver is accompanied by another experienced driver, they also increase the chances of increasing the age for driving cars and trucks to 17 years.

mobile driving license

To support the single market, Parliament is in favor of introducing a mobile driving license, which can be carried on a phone and would be equivalent to a physical license.

Rapporteur Karima Daly (Greens, France) said: “Parliament had the opportunity today to improve road safety in Europe and get closer to the target of zero deaths on EU roads by 2050 and better protect everyone from crashes. The rules include medical examinations to obtain or renew a license and strict provisions for new drivers.

The legislative project on driving licenses proceeded with 339 votes in favor, 240 against and 37 abstentions and constituted the position of the Parliament in the first reading. The chamber that emerged from the June elections will continue the legislative process.