On Tuesday, October 21st, the European Parliament (EP) approved major reforms to European Union driving rules, supposedly designed to improve road safety and unify standards across member states.
Under the new legislation, drivers disqualified for serious offences such as drink-driving, excessive speeding, drug-driving or causing injury or death will face bans across the entire EU. Member states must notify the licence-issuing country, which will then have 15 days to revoke the individual’s licence.
The reforms also introduce digital driving licences, stricter tests for new drivers, and new maximum age limits for professional drivers. Training will henceforth focus more on blind spots, distracted driving, and interactions with vulnerable road users. Licences will now be valid for 15 years for cars and motorcycles and five years for trucks and buses—with shorter terms for drivers over 65.
Endorsement means that EU governments must now implement the package nationally within three years (despite earlier criticism within the EP of related initiatives). The move supports the Union’s Vision Zero goal of halving road deaths by 2030, a target aiming to address nearly 19,800 fatalities on European roads last year.
