The European Parliament is set to confirm new EU-wide rules on driving licences this Tuesday, introducing updated provisions for novice drivers, vulnerable road users, and the cross-border enforcement of driving disqualifications.

With nearly 20,000 lives lost annually on EU roads, the Parliament aims to ensure that the new legislation significantly strengthens road safety across the bloc.

Learners

The updated framework, already endorsed by the Council, will introduce several important changes for future drivers.
New motorists will be required to learn about blind spot risks, mobile phone distractions, and road awareness towards pedestrians, children, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Among the most notable innovations are:

• Digital driving licence, accessible via smartphone;

• Minimum two-year probationary period for new drivers;

• The possibility for 17-year-olds to drive under supervision;

• The option for 18-year-olds to obtain professional licences for heavy goods vehicles, and from 21 years of age for bus driving.

Enforcement

To end impunity for reckless driving across borders, the new rules will also ensure that any driving bans, suspensions, or restrictions imposed in one EU country are communicated to the country that issued the licence. This measure guarantees that penalties are effectively enforced EU-wide, preventing offenders from escaping sanctions by simply crossing borders.

Vision Zero

The revised driving licence directive is part of a broader EU Road Safety Package, unveiled by the European Commission in March 2023. The initiative aims to improve safety for all road users and to move as close as possible to zero road fatalities by 2050—the EU’s “Vision Zero” goal.