'This will save lives': EU adopts new rules on Europe-wide driving bans

"It will be more difficult for drivers in Europe who committed serious traffic offences in another EU country to dodge a driving ban, as new rules adopted on Tuesday aim to ensure that disqualifications are recognised across the 27 member states. The European Parliament on Tuesday gave the final green light to new rules on the issuance of driving licenses and on the recognition of driving disqualifications across the EU."

"Under current rules, a driving licence can only be withdrawn if the infraction has been committed in the member state that issued it. Lack of EU-wide enforcement also mean that about 40 per cent of offences committed in other EU countries remain unpunished. With the new measures, a driving licence withdrawal, suspension or restriction will be passed on to the EU country which issued the license, to ensure the enforcement of the penalty."

"National authorities will have to inform each other about driving ban decisions for the most severe traffic offences, such as drink or drug driving, causing fatal crashes, or excessive speed (driving 50 km/h faster than the limit). When the member state where the offence took place imposes a driving disqualification of at least three months and the driver has exhausted all appeals, authorities will have to notify the country that issued the licence to enforce its suspension or restriction."

Current rules allow licence withdrawal only in the issuing member state, leaving about 40 percent of offences committed in other EU countries unpunished. New measures require that a driving licence withdrawal, suspension or restriction be passed on to the country that issued the licence to ensure enforcement. National authorities must inform each other about disqualifications for the most severe offences, including drink or drug driving, causing fatal crashes, or excessive speeding. Disqualifications of at least three months become enforceable by the issuing state once appeals are exhausted. Member states have three years to transpose the rules and one additional year to prepare for implementation.

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