New EU legislation moves towards a significant change in the way driving licenses are managed in the Union, sparking lively debate among drivers of all ages. At the heart of the controversy is a proposal that could end lifetime driving licenses, requiring drivers to undergo medical exams every fifteen years to keep their license valid.
This proposed change is part of the 21st amendment to the EU Driving License Directive, aimed at aligning with Brussels’ Vision Zero objective. This ambitious plan aims to eliminate road-related deaths by 2050. While the number of road deaths has fallen significantly from 51,400 in 2001 to 19,800 in 2021 across Europe, progress has stagnated in recent years, which has made new measures necessary.
Currently, countries like Italy and Portugal require medical checks for drivers from the age of 50, Spain and Greece from the age of 65, Denmark from the age of 70, and the Netherlands from the age of 75. In contrast, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland allow drivers to hold their licenses for life without such requirements. The new EU directive, championed by French Green MEP Karima Delli, seeks to standardize the process across all member states, insisting the move is not ageist but rather a way of ensuring drivers’ fitness.
Driving instructors like Thomas Marchetto see merit in the proposal, emphasizing that good health does not always equate to safe driving. However, many older drivers feel particularly targeted by this change, despite assurances that the measure aims to improve road safety for all. Young drivers, on the other hand, welcome this initiative, seeing it as a necessary step to assess the driver’s reflexes and abilities.
The debate has generated significant opposition, with organizations such as “40 Million Motorists” launching petitions such as “Don’t touch my license. » These groups argue that revoking driving privileges without any violations, based solely on medical evaluations, is unfair and discriminates against drivers based on their age and health.
Adding to the chorus of dissent, MEP Maxette Pirbakas expressed her concerns on Twitter, highlighting the unique challenges facing her constituents in the French West Indies:
“In @Europarl_EN, I co-signed an amendment to reject this excessive text which would lead to the cancellation of the driving licenses of people who have not committed any offense. At home, in the West Indies, where public transport networks are embryonic, not having a car is equivalent to social death. This anti-automobile policy goes further and further without ever taking into account the realities of the outskirts and rural areas.”
As the European Parliament prepares to discuss the bill on February 27, following its first reading in December, the future of driving licenses in the EU hangs in the balance. The bill has sparked a debate over safety , discrimination and the right to mobility, with stakeholders on all sides bracing for a heated debate.
Pirbakas’ statement highlights the wider implications of the law, particularly for those living in areas where public transport is limited or non-existent, highlighting the need for policies that take into account the diverse circumstances of all EU citizens .
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