EU rules on driving licences and cross-border enforcement of traffic offences to significantly reduce injuries and deaths among novice drivers and help ensure that dangerous drivers face penalties for a broader range of traffic offences committed across borders.
Among the legal changes proposed today, Novice drivers to be subject to a zero-tolerance alcohol limit for at least two years after passing their test. Member States will be encouraged to restrict other high-risk activities during this period, such as driving with other youngsters or at night. In addition driver disqualification should apply in future in all EU Member States, not just the country where driving offenses were committed, and Member States will be able to follow up on seven new road traffic offences committed by non-resident drivers, including wrong-way driving and dangerous overtaking.
Graziella Jost, Director of Projects at the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) commented:
“New figures released last week showed that road deaths in the EU are not decreasing fast enough to hit the crucial target of halving fatalities and severe injuries by 2030. So it’s good to see the EU get serious about road safety today. Today’s driving licence proposals include an essential measure to keep novice drivers safer, and we hope Member States will also build on these measures.
“Member States will also now have the power to ensure that a wider range of driving offenses committed by non-resident drivers can be followed up across borders. That’s welcome, as is the new possibility for driving disqualifications to apply across the EU. However, it’s now up to Member States and the European Parliament to ensure this package doesn’t get watered down on the often treacherous road to becoming law.”
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