The European Parliament has updated the rules on driving licenses. / Freepik
On Tuesday, October 21, the European Parliament gave its approval to revised regulations concerning EU driver’s licenses. The objective of this modification is to bolster traffic protection and notably lessen the frequency of accidents that result in the deaths of close to 20,000 individuals on roadways within the EU annually.
Delo.ua conveys this information citing details from the European Parliament’s press office.
Primary Revisions
For the first instance, EU statutes will enforce an initial trial timeframe spanning no less than two years for motorists lacking substantial experience. These operators will encounter stricter repercussions for operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol and neglecting to utilize seatbelts.
People aged 17 will gain the option to secure a class B (vehicle) license, yet must navigate while being supervised by an adept chauffeur until attaining the age of 18. To alleviate the deficiency of skilled drivers, those aged 18 will be eligible to procure a truck (class C) license , and those aged 21 can acquire a bus (class D ) license, assuming they possess a certificate affirming their professional proficiency. Otherwise, an individual must be 21 and 24 years of age, respectively, to pilot these means of transport.
Modernized Duration of Validation for Certificates
Span of Validation for vehicles and cycles: Driver authorizations will persist for a duration of 15 years. Member countries retain the prerogative to curtail the duration to a decade should the authorization serve as an official identity document domestically.
Span of Validation for lorries and motorcoaches: Authorizations will remain effective for a quinquennium. In the instance of drivers who have reached 65 or older, EU nations have the discretion to compress the duration to augment the recurrence of medical checkups or refresher seminars.
Assessments, Digitization, and Rights Revocation
The refined protocols for driver authorizations encompass a spectrum of adjustments, spanning from education and assessment to inter-state authorization abeyances.
Education and Evaluations
The evaluation should encompass comprehension of latent hazard areas, vehicle navigational support technologies, secure egress protocols, and diversions attributed to telephonic devices. Heightened concentration will be directed toward cognizance of threats posed to pedestrians, juveniles, cyclists, and other susceptible road participants.
Digitization
An electronic driver authorization, obtainable via a mobile device, is slated to progressively evolve into the primary authorization methodology within the EU. Nevertheless, operators will retain the entitlement to solicit a tangible authorization, which should be furnished within a tri-weekly period.
Transnational Rights Abrogation
Any verdict concerning the rescission, suspension, or constraint of an authorization will be communicated to the EU member state responsible for its issuance, guaranteeing transnational enforcement of penalties. This provision pertains to significant transgressions, notably including driving under the influence or surpassing speed limits (for illustrative purposes, exceeding the mandated velocity by 50 km/h).
Jutta Paulus, a representative from Germany affiliated with the European Parliament, commented: “The novel European Driving Authorization Directive will usher in digital driver authorizations by 2030, bestowing upon citizens an unrestricted preference between utilizing an application or carrying a physical credential… Throughout Europe, citizens stand to gain directly from these palpable enhancements.”
The updated statutes are scheduled to become operative on the twentieth day subsequent to their dissemination within the Official Journal of the European Union. EU member nations will be afforded a triennial interval for the assimilation of these stipulations, followed by an additional year to prepare for their implementation.
By way of reminder, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has streamlined the methodology for obtaining a category CE driver's permit (freight vehicles coupled with trailers). As of the present moment, a prerequisite of one year of operational experience is no longer obligatory for this.
