2024-02-28 16:17:20
The European Parliament adopted its position on Wednesday on a review of the rules relating to driving licenses. MEPs rejected the idea of subjecting drivers to a medical examination every 15 years.
The reform, proposed by the Commission in March 2023, aims to improve road safety. More than 20,000 people died on European roads last year.
One of the measures in the text submitted to the vote aimed to introduce a medical examination every 15 years for driving license holders aged over 40. But MEPs preferred that drivers assess their ability to drive themselves, through a questionnaire for example, when issuing and renewing their driving license. Member States will be able to decide whether the self-assessment should be replaced by a medical examination.
Last December, the text was narrowly voted on in the Transport and Tourism committee, making the vote uncertain during the plenary. The deputies then decided not to follow the Commission on the idea of reducing the validity period of the license for seniors.
The report was adopted in plenary by 339 votes in favor, 240 votes against and 37 abstentions, in a modified form through amendments.
The rapporteur on this issue, French MP Karima Delli (Greens/ALE), came away very disappointed with the vote. “Even if it is adopted, I consider that this report does not meet the challenges“, she declared, regretting that “fake news” et “fallacious arguments” have parasitized the debate.
The day before, she had denounced automobile lobbying.very strong” on this subject. Medical tests, “common sense visits“, already exist in 14 European countries including Portugal and Italy, she said.
Karima Delli, however, said she was satisfied to see the notion of medical examination appear in European law, even if it is optional for member states. France, Germany and Belgium are among the countries that do not apply it.
For Pauline Déroulède, a Paralympic athlete who spoke alongside MP Delli, Wednesday’s vote demonstrates a “lack of political courage“. This 33-year-old sportswoman is campaigning to restrict the “driving license for life” after being mowed down by a nonagenarian driver while she was on a Parisian sidewalk. One of the arguments of the detractors of these medical examinations was in particular that they were difficult to apply, the national health services not being capable to absorb these visits.
Belgian MEP Pascal Arimont (EPP), who voted against, stressed in the hemicycle that he wanted to avoid hindering the travel of people who live in rural areas and can hardly do without a car.
What the text contains
The approved text provides for a two-year probationary period for novice drivers. During this time, they will be subject to a stricter maximum blood alcohol content (0.2 g/l) and harsher penalties for dangerous driving.
MEPs were also in favor of the introduction of a digital driving license, available on mobile phones and completely equivalent to the physical driving license.
An amendment from the Socialist and Democratic Group (S&D) which planned to introduce a points-based license in countries which have not yet adopted this system, such as Belgium, was rejected by MEPs.
The EU has set itself the objective of halving the number of road deaths in 2030 compared to 2020 and achieving “zero deaths and serious injuries” by 2050.
The deadline being very tight, it is very likely that the Parliament and the Council, which has already adopted its position on the reform, will not be able to negotiate under this legislature. The file will then be taken up by the new Parliament which will be elected on June 9.
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