Driving license rules: Driving bans should apply throughout the EU – that’s what the EU Parliament wants

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Driving licenses (symbolic image)

Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa

A revocation of a driving license in one EU country should apply throughout the EU: Members of the EU Parliament have agreed on this.

The current rule is: In most cases, a driving ban only applies in the country in which an offense was committed and has no consequences for driving in other EU countries - not even in the one that issued the driving license. To ensure that the relevant sanction is applied in all EU states, the proposed new EU rules will require this decision to be passed on to the EU state that issued the driving license, Parliament has said.

According to MPs, driving without a valid driving license should also be added to the list of serious traffic violations. This would put it in the same category as drunk driving or causing fatal traffic accidents, which would also result in an exchange of information about the revocation of the driving license.

»I am convinced that this directive will not only help reduce the number of road accidents, but also increase citizens' awareness of driving more responsibly and their willingness to obey the rules and accept the consequences of violations “No matter where in the EU we go,” said rapporteur Petar Vitanov, according to the statement.

“Anyone who commits a serious traffic offense and loses their driving license is not allowed to continue racing in the neighboring country,” said EU MP Markus Farber (CDU), according to a statement. »The revocation of driving licenses must also work across borders. It is difficult to convey that this is still not possible in an integrated internal market."

Thomas Rudner, MP for the Green Party, said before the vote: "By being able to punish reckless driving abroad, we hope to achieve a significant reduction in the number of accidents and deaths caused by excessive speed, drunk driving and drug use, in order to achieve our goal Achieving the goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2050.«

The rules on driving disqualification are part of the road safety package presented by the Commission in March 2023. MPs approved the draft directive by 372 votes to 220. There were 43 abstentions.

Parliament has now completed its first reading. Since the Council has not yet decided on its position, the new Parliament, elected in June 2024, will continue work on this law.

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