Magazine - 15/05/06

 

In March, the European Union decided that a single driving licence would replace the 110 documents currently in circulation... This new document should be in use by 2012.

 

After over two years of deadlock, the Austrian presidency of the European Union has at last managed to overcome the disagreements that divided the 25 on the issue of the single driving licence. Having reached a political agreement, the Transport Ministers have therefore ratified the creation of a European driving licence in "credit card" format, which should make life easier for those Europeans who move abroad.

From 2012, this single plastic-coated document, "impossible to forge" and renewable every 10 or 15 years depending on the country, should contain an electronic chip enabling rapid data reading. 

 

We should specify that as things stand, this draft directive makes no provision for establishing common regulations for obtaining driving licences for cars, trucks, and motorcycles: it is first and foremost a project in the interests of public safety, intended to avoid identity fraud ("driving licence tourism"). "The new model will be such that possibilities for fraud will be almost non-existent," declared Austrian Transport Minister Hubert Gorbach. It will thus be impossible for a driver whose licence has been suspended to obtain a new licence in another Member State, thanks to collaboration between administrations.

 

 

Moreover, and contrary to the rumours (widespread in Germany and Austria in particular), the idea of renewing the document does not mean that licence holders' ability to drive will be put to the test again; it is simply a question of updating the information (notably the photo of the licence holder), as for a passport or identity card.

 

 

For European mopeds, very prone to traffic accidents, the prospect of the single licence will have concrete practical consequences! Riding a small scooter, or even a moped, will henceforth require the obtaining of a licence in every country.

The European legislation introduces the principle of gradual access to riding bigger and more powerful motorcycles. Direct access to the latter category will be possible only from the age of 24, after passing a theory exam and a practical exam. Those wishing to ride the most powerful motorcycles before this age will have to have at least two years' experience of riding lighter models.

 

 

In order to enable all the old driving licences (200 million!) to be renewed the directive, which still remains to be approved in 2006 by the European Parliament, gives the Member States a period of... 26 years to replace the current driving licences with the single model.