Drivers Licence Bans To

Be Valid Across EU

PHOTO: POLITSEI.EE18 FEB - European Parliament is set to impose EU-wide drivers license bans.

Currently it is possible that an individual has a drivers licence suspended in a foreign EU country, but keeps it in the home country. The EU is now moving on to close this gap.

Vote

The European Parliament voted in favor of plans to implement driving bans that can apply throughout the bloc, the DW informed. The proposal passed by 372 votes in favor to 220 against at first reading with 41 members of European Parliament (MEP) abstaining. The EU has a unified drivers' license scheme meaning, for the most part, that people qualified to drive in one member state can drive in them all. If you lose your license in the country where it was issued, or face a driving suspension there, then you are left without a license, unable to drive legally anywhere in the EU. However, if a driver commits offenses leading to a ban or suspension in a different member state, currently, the penalties and restrictions will often only apply to driving where the offense was committed, not in the drivers's country of residence or the rest of the bloc.

Awareness

"I am positive this directive will not only help reduce road accidents, but it will also contribute to better awareness among citizens about more responsible driving and a willingness to follow the rules and accept the consequences of breaking them, no matter where in the EU we drive," Bulgarian MEP Petar Vitanov said.

Rules

The disqualification rules were presented in March 2023 as part of a road safety package which seeks to minimize fatalities on EU roads by 2050. MEPs suggested including driving without a valid licence to the list of severe traffic offences — which currently includes drink driving or causing a fatal traffic accident — that would automatically trigger the exchange of information on driving disqualification between EU states. In most cases, for licensed drivers, the crucial step would be informing the country that had issued the individual with a license. Driving 50 km/h faster than the speed limit is also deemed a severe traffic offence that can result in driving disqualification.