The European Commission has taken up road safety. We are in for big changes.

The Samara Institute for Automotive Market Research writes about this case in detail. As we read, the new rules are designed to improve the safety of all road users and help the European Union achieve “vision zero” of no fatalities on EU roads by 2050.

The task is huge, as more than 20,000 people died on EU roads last year. people, with the majority of casualties being pedestrians, cyclists and users of scooters and motorcycles. The provisions proposed by the EU aim to better prepare drivers for using zero-emission vehicles and traveling on urban roads with more bicycles and two-wheelers and in the environment of more pedestrians. They should also allow young drivers to gain experience through the system of controlled driving - from the age of 17, young people will be able to learn how to drive a car and get a driver’s license. Persons over the age of 17 will be able to drive independently from the age of 18 and work as professional drivers as soon as their position allows. This will help address the current driver shortage.

Modernization of driving license rules

As we read, the driving license proposal amends current EU law and, according to the Commission, is based on best practices already in place in several member states. The main goal of the new rules is to improve road safety through the adoption of measures, including:

• A probationary period of at least two years for novice drivers after passing the test and a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving. This is important because even though young drivers make up only 8% of all car drivers, two out of five fatal collisions involve drivers under 30;

• Providing young people with the opportunity to take a test and start driving cars and trucks under supervision from the age of 17 to gain driving experience;

• Adjust driver training and testing to better prepare drivers for the presence of vulnerable road users. This will help improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and bike and electric scooter users as the EU moves towards more sustainable urban mobility;

• A more targeted assessment of physical and mental fitness, taking into account advances in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes. Drivers will also be encouraged to upgrade their driving skills and knowledge to keep up with technological developments.

Digital driving license in Europe

To facilitate the recognition of driving licenses between Member States, the Commission was the first in the world to offer a digital driving licence. The exchange, renewal or replacement of this document will be much easier, since all procedures will be carried out online. In the same vein, non-EU citizens (with comparable road safety standards) will find it easier to exchange their driver’s license for an EU driver’s license.

The updated rules for passing the exams should take into account the transition to zero-emission cars. For example, the tests will assess knowledge and skills related to advanced driving assistance systems and other automated technologies. Beginning drivers will also learn how their driving style, such as shift times, affects emissions. In addition, the weight limit for category B vehicles will be adjusted for alternative fuel vehicles as zero emission vehicles may be heavier.

Effective law enforcement at border crossings

The current EU border enforcement rules have helped ensure that non-residents found guilty of traffic violations do not remain anonymous. However, in 2019, about 40 percent cross-border crimes or offenses went unpunished because the perpetrator was not identified or the payment was not collected. Thus, the proposals (applications) submitted by the European Commission on March 1 aim to solve this problem by providing law enforcement agencies with access to national driving license registries. The Commission also proposes to strengthen the role of established national contact points so that they can better cooperate with law enforcement agencies involved in criminal investigations. This will eliminate existing shortcomings in cooperation between Member States in the investigation of crimes or offences.

Current laws cover some of the most common and serious crimes or offenses such as speeding and drunk driving. The Commission proposes to expand the scope of traffic offenses or offenses to include:

• do not keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front

• dangerous overtaking

• dangerous parking

• crossing one or more solid white lines

• driving in the wrong direction

• non-compliance with the rules for the use of emergency corridors

• use of an overloaded vehicle.

As emphasized by representatives of the European Commission, the above changes are designed to help reduce impunity for such crimes or offenses and increase the ability of Member States to punish perpetrators from other EU countries. It is also about ensuring equal treatment of resident and non-resident offenders (crimes or offences).

The updated provisions are designed to ensure that the rights of persons accused of violating traffic rules are respected. Non-residents retain the right to an effective remedy and to an impartial trial, to the presumption of innocence and to a defense. These rights would be better guaranteed by provisions to ensure uniform content and service of punishment notices, to ensure that recipients of such notices can verify their authenticity, and by introducing a standard requirement to share information with alleged offenders.

A dedicated IT portal aims to provide citizens with easy access to information about road safety regulations in each Member State and, over time, allow them to pay fines directly.

These provisions will also be brought into line with EU data protection law (GDPR and Criminal Data Protection Directive).

Driving bans

To prevent impunity for traffic violations, a new system should be introduced to make it possible to ban driving throughout the EU when a Member State decides to disqualify a driver for an offense committed in its territory. Bringing road traffic offenders to justice in all Member States is essential to road safety. Under current rules, if a serious offense results in a driving ban, it cannot be enforced throughout the EU if the driver committed the offense in a Member State other than the one that issued the licence.

The EU proposal addresses serious traffic violations such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and causing death or serious injury as a result of any traffic violation.