Driving licenses withdrawal will now be extended to all EU countries

At present, when a driver has their license revoked in an EU nation different from the one of issuance, the repercussions are confined solely to the jurisdiction where the infraction occurred.

Cease all instances of speeding while overseas. At present, should a driver find themselves stripped of their license in an EU nation distinct from the one of issuance, the repercussions are confined solely to the jurisdiction where the infraction took place.

In a significant development, the European Parliament, alongside member states, has reached an agreement to broaden the scope of driving license revocations following serious accidents, now applying to all 27 member states.

According to the newly established regulations, any prohibitions or limitations enforced by a Member State on a driver following a serious road incident will likewise be applicable in the nation where the driving license was originally granted.

The nation that granted the license will subsequently need to enforce the ban across the entirety of the EU. To put it another way, should your license be revoked in Belgium or Spain, it will similarly be revoked in France.

“By establishing more transparent and prompt guidelines for the suspension of driving privileges in cases of serious offenses, this initiative safeguards not just the conscientious drivers, but the broader community as well,” remarked Matteo Ricci, the MEP who put forth the proposal.

Earlier today, the European Parliament, alongside member states, reached an agreement to implement a digital driving licence throughout the European Union by the close of 2030.

This digital licence, conveniently accessible through mobile phones, will hold the same validity as a traditional driving licence, which users will still have the option to request.

In 2024, the European Union witnessed the tragic loss of 19,800 lives due to road accidents, marking a modest decline of 3% from the preceding year. There is a notable disparity in progress across Member States.

Sweden and Denmark maintain their status as the safest countries for road travel in Europe, recording 20 and 24 fatalities per million inhabitants, respectively. In stark contrast, Bulgaria and Romania find themselves at the lower end of the spectrum, with 74 and 77 deaths per million inhabitants, respectively.