European Parliament gives green light to licenses that allow driving at 17

At the plenary session in the French city of Strasbourg, MEPs supported the revision of the rules for driving licenses, with new provisions regarding newly licensed drivers, digital driving licenses and driving bans.

This is an update to European Union (EU) rules for driving licenses, "aimed at improving safety and reducing road collisions, which result in the loss of almost 20,000 lives each year on EU roads," according to the European assembly.

Under the new rules, 17-year-olds will be able to obtain a light vehicle driving license (category B), but they will have to drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they turn 18.

For the first time, a minimum probationary period of two years is also provided for newly licensed drivers, with stricter rules and sanctions regarding driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to use seat belts or child restraint systems.

To alleviate the shortage of professional drivers, the new rules allow people aged 18 to obtain a truck driving license (category C) and those aged 21 to obtain a bus driving license (category D), provided they hold a certificate of professional competence. If they don't, they must be 21 and 24, respectively, to drive these vehicles.

Another new feature is the digital version of the driver's license, which should now be accessible from a mobile phone, the new main format in the EU, whereas today it is a physical card.

In terms of training, the driving license exam will now include knowledge of blind spot risks, driver assistance systems, safe door opening and the risks of distraction when using the phone.

Regarding validity, driving licenses will now be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, with the possibility for Member States to reduce this period to 10 years if the driving license is used as a national identification document.

Driving licenses for trucks and buses will be valid for five years.

It is expected that EU countries will be able to reduce the validity period for drivers aged 65 and over in order to subject holders to more frequent medical examinations or refresher courses.

To obtain a driver's license for the first time or when applying for a renewal, the driver must pass a medical examination, which includes vision and cardiovascular health tests.

It also stipulates the exchange of information between EU countries on the seizure, suspension or restriction of a license, with a view to preventing reckless driving abroad.

The new rules will come into force on the 20th day after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, with Member States having three years to transpose the directive into national law and a further year to prepare for its implementation.

This review was initially proposed by the European Commission in March 2023.

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