EU agrees on digital driver’s license

By the end of 2030, a uniform digital mobile driver’s license will be recognized in all Member States. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Member States agreed on this during the night from Monday to Tuesday.

Why a digital driver’s license? There are currently more than a hundred types of driver’s licenses in circulation, and the European Commission wants uniformity.

Smartphone

The Commission’s proposal to reform the driver’s license rules is one of several to facilitate free movement within the European Union and enhance road safety. Around 20,000 people die on European roads every year.

The digital driver’s license will be available on your smartphone, so you won’t be able to forget it at home. It will be much easier and more efficient for the police and judiciary to carry out checks.

Stricter

The license will remain valid for 15 years, although Member States may choose to limit their validity for those aged 65 and over. Member States will also harmonize the rules on medical screening. New drivers will also be on probation for at least two years, with stricter rules and penalties for driving under the influence or without a seat belt.

The new regulation also means that driving tests will become stricter. All member states want to pay more attention to the “dangers of using a phone while driving, preventing blind spot accidents, or opening car doors safely.”

The European Parliament and member states still need to approve the agreement formally. Member states will have four years to transpose the rules into law.