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DRIVING

French MEP calls for special driving licence for SUVs

A French MEP is calling for an overhaul to the law on driving licences, including introducing a special permit to be able to drive SUVs, medical tests for drivers over 60 and a limited permit for newly-qualified drivers.

Published: 21 September 2023 16:47 CEST
French MEP calls for special driving licence for SUVs
A French gendarme checks the driving licence of a motorist. Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP

Karima Belli represents the Hauts-de-France region in the European parliament, where she chairs the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and has put forward a series of proposals to overhaul driving licences across the EU in order to work towards the Bloc’s Vision Zero target – which aims to cut deaths on the road in Europe. 

Her proposal aims to overhaul the EU’s 2006 agreement which standardises driving licence rules between members of the Bloc.

Among the proposals are;

SUV licences – The creation of a ‘B+’ driving licence, which would only be available to drivers who have several years of driving experience. The normal B licence – which is the licence used to drive cars and vans – would only allow people to drive vehicles below 1,800kg in weight, which excludes all SUVs.

She said: “I propose to create a specific license category for driving an SUV. These vehicles, which are heavier and bulkier, are more prone to accidents. Faced with these behemoths on wheels, a pedestrian is twice as likely to be killed in a collision”. 

The proposal reads: “The heavy passenger cars and pick- ups (SUVs) are not only taking up more space and are less energy efficient, consequently consuming more fuel and producing a higher level of emissions but, in terms of road safety, they are more likely to be subject to collisions than light passenger cars, with far more serious consequences. As initially designed, the B category licence is not completely suitable for the heaviest passenger cars. A new driving  licence category – the B+ category – should therefore be established for cars, as well N1 vans, weighing more than 1,800kg.

“Drivers should only be eligible for this this licence category after gaining a minimum period of experience within the context of their category B licences.”

France already imposes several restrictions on SUVs on environmental grounds – heavier vehicles are taxed at a higher rate, making them more expensive to buy, and French cities including Paris and Lyon are bringing in measures to make parking more expensive for SUVs.

Extra speed limits on some licences – the maximum permitted speed for the B+ licence would remain at 130km/h, but drivers on a B licence would be limited to 110km/h, while A1 and A2 licence holders, which covers low-powered motorbikes, would be 90km/h.

At present the maximum speed limit on French autoroutes is 130 km/h in good conditions, or 110 km/in rain or poor visibility. Rural highways have a limit of either 90km/h or 80km/h depending on local decisions. In built-up areas the standard speed limit is 30km/h, although an increasing number of cities – including Paris – are imposing 20km/h limits in central areas.

Night driving limit – the proposal also suggests that young or newly-qualified drivers be banned from driving at night.

Medical examinations – licences would be valid for 10 years and then have to be renewed, and a medical would be required at the renewal. Drivers over 60 would require a medical examination every seven years, with more frequent examinations for over 70s and people with certain medical conditions.

At present the French driving licence has no upper age limit – unlike the UK licence which must be renewed once the driver reaches 70 – and there are regular calls for extra testing for older drivers. 

The Green party MEP said that these measures would help to tackle road deaths in the EU, which accounted for 20,000 people last year, of which 3,000 deaths were in France. 

Her proposals would need to be adopted by a majority of EU countries so could not be introduced quickly even if there is a consensus – on Thursday the German Green party moved to distance itself from her proposals.

The EU is already working on a plan for a digital driving licence – valid in all member states – that is designed to end long waits to obtain, change or swap a driving licence. There are also calls for Member States to adopt pledges to make obtaining a driving licence mire affordable. 

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DRIVING

EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

The EU has agreed to extend the number of driving offences for which motorists from other member states can be fined for and to make it easier for authorities to chase up the fines and make foreign drivers pay.

Published: 13 May 2024 17:28 CEST
EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

In the last voting session of this term, in April, the European Parliament passed new rules to ensure drivers who breach local traffic rules in another EU member state are found and fined.

The cross-border enforcement (CBE) directive was first adopted in 2015 after it was found that non-resident drivers were more likely to commit speeding offences. The European Commission estimated that in 2008, foreign drivers accounted for about 5 percent of road traffic in the EU but committed around 15 percent of speeding offences.

The directive partially improved the situation, but according to the Commission 40 percent of traffic violations committed in other EU countries are still unpunished “because the offender is not identified or because the fine is not enforced”.

In March 2023, the Commission therefore proposed updating existing measures.

New rules extend the type of offences that will trigger assistance from another member state and seek to improve collaboration among national authorities to identify and fine offenders.

The European Parliament and Council agreed in March on the final text of the directive, which is now being formally approved by the two institutions.

André Sobczak, Secretary-General at Eurocities, a group representing European cities in Brussels, said: “While the final outcome of the discussions is not ideal, we are pleased that EU policymakers have at least put the issue of the enforcement of local traffic rules on foreign vehicles on the table. As we approach an election year, I believe such a practical example can demonstrate why a European approach is necessary to address local issues.”

Which traffic offences are covered?

The previous directive covered eight driving misconducts that would require member states to cooperate: speeding, not wearing seat belts, failing to stop at a red traffic light, drink-driving, driving under the effect of drugs, not wearing a helmet (motorcycles / scooters), using a forbidden lane and using a mobile phone or other communication devices while driving.

The Commission proposed to add to the list not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, dangerous overtaking, dangerous parking, crossing one or more solid white lines, driving the wrong way down a one way street, not respecting the rules on “emergency corridors” (a clear lane intended for priority vehicles), and using an overloaded vehicle.

The Parliament and Council agreed to these and added more offences: not giving way to emergency service vehicles, not respecting access restrictions or rules at a rail crossings, as well as hit-and-run offences.

Despite calls from European cities, the new directive does not cover offences related to foreign drivers avoiding congestion charges or low emission zones. In such cases, information about vehicle registration can only be shared among countries with bilateral agreements.

Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General at POLIS, a network of cities and regions working on urban transport, called on the next European Commission to take other local traffic offences, such as breaches of low emission zones, “fully at heart”.

Collaboration among national authorities

For the traffic violations covered by the directive, EU countries have to help each other to find the liable driver. The new directive further clarifies how.

Member states will have to use the European vehicle and driving licence information system (Eucaris) to get the data of the offender.

National authorities will have 11 months from the date of the violation to issue the fine to a vehicle from another EU member state. However, they will not have to resort to agencies or private entities to collect the fine. This was requested by the European Parliament to avoid scams or leaks of personal data.

Authorities in the country of the offender will have to reply to requests from another EU member state within two months.

When the amount of the fine is more than €70, and all options to have it paid have been exhausted, the member state where the violation occurred can ask the country of the offender to take over the collection.

The person concerned will be able to request follow-up documents in a different official EU language.

When will the new rules will be enforced?

Now that the EU Parliament has passed the law, the EU Council has to do the same, although there is no date set for when that will happen. Once the directive is adopted, EU countries will have 30 months to prepare for implementation.

Last year the Commission also proposed a new directive on driving licenses, but negotiations on the final text of this file will only take place after the European elections.

This article has been produced in collaboration with Europe Street news.

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