3rd Driving Licence Directive back in EP

Publication date: 22 November 2004

Mathieu Grosch MEP, Rapporteur for the Recast of the Driving Licence Directive, presented today his draft report to the European Parliament's Transport Committee for a first exchange of views in the presence of the European Commission.

report_draft_grosch_licences.pdf (317 KB)

Main issues addressed in the Grosch Draft Report are:
Credit card licences with a microchip
Introduction of a plastic credit card model driving licence containing a microchip where Member states are entitled to store more information about the driver than simply the details stated on the face of the driving licence. All paper driving licences would have to be replaced within 10 years of implementation in the member states of the Directive and all existing plastic card models would have to be replaced within 20 years. Periodical administrative renewal of the licence would apply to all licence holders however the rights to drive various categories of vehicle held by existing licence holders would not be changed.

Driving Licence Tourism
To combat driving licence tourism – i.e. the practice whereby citizens having had their driving licence confiscated for driving offences are able to obtain a new licence in a new Member State by passing another driving test – a number of measures are proposed:
- identification in each member State of a central body providing information on driving licences that would then be part of an EU wide Driving Licence Network operating across the EU for the exchange of information on driving licences
- mutual recognition of sanctions across the Member States to ensure a driving ban in on member state is enforced in all member States

Caravans
B category licence holders will be allowed tow trailers (e.g. caravans) intended for non commercial purposes up to a combined mass of 3500 kg without having to pass an additional exam. Those drivers who take a voluntary training course (of at least 7 hours duration) without an exam may be permitted to drive a trailer combination or motor home up to a limit of 4250kg. A permitted useful load of 1000kg is intended to prevent this measure being used for commercial purposes.

Graduated Access
With regard to Age limit and progressive access to motor vehicle, Mr Grosch has sought to fix minim age limits leaving it to the member states to set higher age limits where they see fit.
The maximum minimum age for obtaining a full A licence is 26 but could be as young as 21.

Driving Licence Validity and Renewal
Mr Grosch proposes for B category licences a renewal after 3 years for novice drivers and every 10 years for all other drivers. If the chip on the licence becomes damaged this will not affect the validity of the licence.

For drivers over 65 the requirement to renew more regularly than younger drivers based purely on age is removed. However, based on the medical checks at the time of renewal Member States will have the right to reduce the period of validity of the licence, prescribe more frequent medical checks or other “special measures” such as refresher courses after the age of 45.

Member states may also limit the validity of the licence if following traffic offences they consider it necessary for individual drivers to have more frequent medical examinations or to take refresher courses.

Related News Items:
- Transport Council: Discussions on Driving Licence Directive (7 October 2004)
- Third Driving Licence Directive on the EP Agenda (30 July 2004)
- Setback for EU driving licence (6 April 2004)
- 3rd Driving Licence Directive proposed by Commission (21 October 2003)