The European Parliament approved stricter driving licence rules on Tuesday aimed at reducing the EU’s nearly 20,000 annual road deaths to zero by 2050.
The new legislation modernises testing requirements, introduces digital licences and creates an EU-wide licence suspension system for serious offences.
Driver training will now include education on blind spot dangers, driver assistance systems, safe door opening and mobile phone risks, with increased focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians, children and cyclists.
“This is a significant step towards improved road safety and creating a stronger, more effective control and enforcement system,” said a European Commission spokesperson.
The new rules establish a minimum two-year probationary period for novice drivers, who will face stricter penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing seatbelts, or failing to use child seats.
Seventeen-year-olds will be permitted to obtain car driving licences but must be accompanied by an experienced driver until they turn 18. To address professional driver shortages, 18-year-olds can obtain lorry licences and 21-year-olds can drive buses if they hold professional competence certificates.
New driving licences will be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, with member states able to reduce this to 10 years when the licence serves as a national identity document. Heavy vehicle licences will remain valid for five years.
Countries may also reduce licence validity periods for drivers over 65 to require more frequent medical checks or refresher courses.
Medical examinations, including vision and cardiovascular health assessments, will be required before obtaining or renewing a licence, though member states can substitute self-assessment forms or other national evaluation systems.
Digital driving licences accessible via mobile phones will be recognised throughout the EU, with the Commission aiming for mutual recognition by 2030. Drivers will still have the right to request physical licences.
The legislation also ensures that driving bans imposed in one EU country will apply across the entire bloc. When a country revokes a driver’s licence, it must quickly inform the issuing country to enforce the penalty EU-wide.
The rules focus on serious offences such as drunk driving, excessive speeding, or causing fatal accidents.
EU statistics show that while road deaths are gradually decreasing, progress remains slow. Approximately 19,800 people died on EU roads in 2024, with about 100,000 seriously injured annually. Men account for three-quarters of road fatalities, and 52 percent of fatal accidents occur on rural roads.
The new rules will come into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, with member states given three years to incorporate the provisions into national law and an additional year for implementation.
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