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Road Transport: New European Driving Licence
From January 19th 2013, all new driving licences issued across the EU
will be in the form of a plastic "credit card," with a standard European format
and tougher security protection.
The new European licence will progressively replace the more than 100
different paper and plastic models currently in use by more than 300 million
drivers across the EU.
It is part of a broader package of measures (3rd EU Driving Licence
Directive) coming into force designed to enhance free movement, tackle driving
licence fraud and improve road safety across the EU.
"Traffic police across Europe are currently expected to recognise more
than 100 different types of paper and plastic driving licence.
ID photos may be long out of date, the categories for which the driver
is licenced unclear and the document may be easy to forge.
Fake driving licences are a licence to kill, that is why we need
licences which are easy to read, easy to understand and very difficult to
falsify".
The main changes which will come into force on January 19th 2013 are as
follows:
A standard European format
All new European driving licences will be issued according to a new
format, a plastic "credit card", with a photo and standard information
requirements - easy to recognise and read across the EU (see photo below).
All new licences will be issued in this format from January 19th 2013.
Existing licences are not affected, but will be changed to the new
format at the time of renewal or at the latest by 2033.
The European driving licence can be adapted to incorporate national
symbols as decided by each Member State.
Enhanced security
The new driving licence includes a number of security features to make
it "tamper proof" and to avoid falsification.
In addition, it is backed up by the creation of a European electronic
data exchange system to facilitate the exchange of information between national
administrations.
This will simplify the process for managing driving licences for people
changing residence from one Member State to another. It will also significantly
help to prohibit "driving licence tourism" and fraud, for example, to enforce
the new, more stringent prohibition, of a Member State issuing a licence to
someone who has already had their licence withdrawn, suspended or restricted by
another Member State.
The Regular Renewal of Licences
Central to tackling fraud and improving road safety is the need for a
regular renewal of licences across the EU.
Under the new rules, licences must be renewed, for car drivers and
motorcyclists, every 10-15 years, depending on the Member State.
For buses and lorry drivers licenses must be renewed every five years
and a medical check-up will be necessary for renewal.
This is an administrative renewal, and does not require any additional
testing.
It ensures that licencing information, photos etc. are kept up to date,
security features on cards can be regularly updated to new technology and Member
States have constantly updated information about the licences in circulation.
Protection of vulnerable drivers
The European driving licence regime strengthens protection for the most
vulnerable categories of road users.
This includes:
A higher age limit for direct access (via practical and theory testing)
to licences for the most powerful motorbikes, up from the existing 21 to 24
years.
Raising the age limit, as well as introducing extra steps along the way
for progressive access.
The new regime requires driving experience of a minimum of four years
(instead of two) with less powerful motorcycles before a licence is issued to
drive the most powerful ones.
Mopeds constitute a new vehicle category and moped licence candidates
will from now on be required to pass a theory test.
Member States may also introduce skill and behaviour tests and medical
examinations.
The EU sets a minimum recommended age of 16 years at which licences are
mutually recognised by all Members States (Member States may go to 14 in their
own country).
Prior to this there were no minimum EU requirements for mopeds.
Minimum standards for driving examiners
Driving examiners will have to comply with minimum standards as regards
their initial qualification and periodic training.
This measure will provide quality control in the new system.
Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences was adopted by Member States
and the European Parliament in 2006. It had to be transposed by Member States by
19 January 2011.
And it becomes fully applicable on 19 January 2013.