The European Union has reached final approval on new measures to ‘harmonize’ the driving license rules of its 27 member states—and has closed a loophole that allowed drivers with violations in another EU country to escape penalties by going home.
Under the rules approved in March by the EU Council and the the European Parliament, the member state issuing the license will be required to enforce a driving ban imposed by another EU country where the offence occurred, if the suspension is at least three months; it will have 20 days to notify the driver once notice is received. The directive specifies suspendable offenses, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, significant speeding or acts leading to serious injury or death.
A date for the new rules to take effect will be announced soon. Other changes in the directive include allowing licenses to be valid for as long as 15 years, requiring medical checks for issuance of first licenses including a cardiovascular checkup and allowing drivers between 18-21 to be licensed to drive heavy trucks and buses.
A framework was also agreed on for a digital license to be introduced and available across the EU by 2030.
