Green light for the new EU driver's license guideline: more security and opportunities!

Green light for the new EU driver's license guideline: more security and opportunities!

Österreich - On March 25, 2025, Alexander Klacska, chairman of the federal division transport and transport in the Austria (WKÖ) Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), welcomed the trilogue cleaning between the European Council and the Parliament to revise the EU driver's license directive. This update aims to modernize the existing regulations in order to better counter the challenges in the transport industry, especially the acute lack of handlebar. According to OTS Improvements, especially with regard to truck and bus driver's licenses.

An important point of the reform is the reduction of the minimum age for the acquisition of a truck driving license from 21 to 18 years and the reduction of the minimum age for the bus driver's license from 24 to 21 years. In addition, EU countries can allow 17-year-olds to guide truck or vans in the future, provided they are accompanied by an experienced driver. This measure is intended to make the profession of professional driver more attractive and help to alleviate the acute lack of drivers in the industry.

additional relevance of the reform

The revision of the driver's license guideline also includes positive changes for the car driving license. This includes an EU-wide harmonization of the trial period for beginners and the recognition of digital driver's licenses. These measures aim to increase the safety in road traffic and to promote the attractiveness of the training. This is particularly important in view of the current challenges in the transport industry, which is characterized by an age wave and a serious lack of work and skilled workers.

Federal Minister Volker Wissing critically commented on some changes to the driver's license to some changes and asked EU MP Karima Delli to withdraw them. He described the suggestions as a massive interference with the freedom of the citizens and emphasized that mobility was a basic need. Wissing then pointed out how stressful these changes could be for younger and older people in rural areas. His ministry has decided against a speed limit for novice drivers and the introduction of new driver's license classes, while the negotiations are still in an early stage, such as bmdv reported.

Goals of the reform and traffic safety

The EU Parliament clearly outlined the drivers behind these reform efforts. Every year, over 20,000 people die in the EU in traffic accidents, and therefore the reform not only aims to combat the lack of the handlebar, but also to increase traffic safety and to support ecological and digital change. Among other things, MPs require better preparation for drivers in real driving situations and sensitize the risks that affect the protection users in need of protection such as pedestrians and cyclists. This includes requirements for driver's license tests that also include driving under difficult conditions such as snow or when using driving assistance systems, as in a report by Europarl

Overall, the upcoming changes to the driver's license directive illustrate the various facets that must be taken into account in the debate about mobility and safety in road traffic. The development remains exciting, especially against the background of the upcoming European elections in June 2024, in which the long -term alignment of the reforms could be further specified.