Still fit to drive? EU states in favor of regular self-disclosure

Road safety - Still fit to drive? EU states in favor of regular self-disclosure - Germany wants to vote against it

Anyone wishing to renew a driving license in future will have to fill out a questionnaire with health questions, according to the EU member states. This means that in future, such self-disclosure could be required every 15 years in Germany, according to information provided by the EU countries on Monday. During negotiations on new driving license regulations, the German Ministry of Transport was unable to push through the idea that there should be no such self-disclosure. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) had therefore announced that he would not agree to the project.

The revision of the rules is based on a proposal by the EU Commission, which was presented in March. The EU member states have now adopted their position on this, with which they intend to enter into negotiations with Parliament.

Self-disclosure for driving license renewal

For the renewal of driving licenses, it is to be examined whether holders are still physically and mentally able to drive a car or motorcycle. This includes restrictions such as visual impairments, heart disease, epilepsy or alcoholism, which also pose a danger to other people on the road. However, it is not up to a doctor to determine whether a person's eyesight or drinking habits pose a risk. Each country can also decide to only ask for a self-disclosure.

According to the plans, driving licenses for cars, scooters and motorcycles will be valid for 10 to 15 years - stricter rules apply to buses and trucks. Each country will also be given the option of shortening these periods for older drivers. The EU Commission had originally proposed that driving licenses for people over the age of 70 should be renewed every five years.

Big debate about senior citizens at the wheel

With the revision of the EU driving license rules, there has once again been a major debate in Germany as to whether older people pose a risk on the roads. The German Road Safety Council rejects a possible mandatory test of senior citizens' fitness to drive as disproportionate. Older people have a disproportionately low accident rate compared to their share of the population.

According to Siegfried Brockmann, head of accident research at the insurance companies, this line of argument misses the point. It is true that senior citizens do not represent an excessive accident risk in absolute terms. However, they drive much less. In terms of mileage, the accident risk of people over 75 is comparable in certain respects to the high-risk group of very young drivers.

According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Monday, older drivers are more often to blame than younger drivers when they are involved in accidents resulting in personal injury. According to the statistics, people aged 65 and over were the main culprits in more than two thirds of these cases last year (69 percent).

Accompanied driving from 17

What Germans have been allowed to do since 2011 is setting a precedent throughout the EU. In other countries too, minors will be able to sit behind the wheel alongside parents or other accompanying persons in future. According to the plan, the accompanying person must be at least 24 years old and have held a driving license for at least five years. In addition, they must not have been banned from driving within the last five years. Until now, accompanying persons in Germany have had to be at least 30 years old. There will also be a probationary period throughout the EU in future.

What is new is that in future, accompanied driving will also be possible for trucks. The EU member states are thus largely following the EU Commission's original proposal. FDP MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen called for accompanied driving to be permitted from the age of 16.

Digital driver's license to come

The EU member states also agreed that in future there should also be a digital driving license that can be stored on a cell phone. This should be available free of charge. According to the Commission's proposal, however, there should still be a physical version of the driving license.

Harsh criticism of proposals from the European Parliament

Initial proposals from French Green MEP Karima Delli were met with strong criticism even from her party colleagues in Germany. For example, she had proposed mandatory medical checks, significant restrictions for novice drivers and stricter speed limits. However, in view of the clear cross-party criticism, it is almost impossible that these proposals will be adopted in exactly the same way.

However, Delli could prevail on individual aspects. "Unfortunately, a majority is emerging in the European Parliament's Transport Committee in favor of the mandatory introduction of medical tests," said CDU MEP Jens Gieseke on Monday.

Before new rules can come into force, the EU Parliament still has to adopt a position and then agree on a compromise with the EU member states. The Transport Committee is expected to vote on a position on Thursday. After that, the entire Parliament can vote on a position based on the decision in the Transport Committee and negotiations can begin.

Negotiations could be concluded soon

The positioning of the EU member states and the Parliament are important steps on the way to new guidelines. The aim is to conclude the negotiations before the European elections next year. As with other directives, Germany will then have to transpose the requirements into national law. The EU member states' proposal currently provides for a period of three years after the regulation comes into force.