Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Added(30) It should be ensured that drivers who newly acquire their driving licence in a given category do not endanger road safety on account of their inexperience. For those novice drivers a probationary period of at least two years should be established. In case a novice driver already has a valid driving licence for another category, the probationary period should only include what may remain of the probationary period of the existing driving licence, yet it should not be shorter than 6 months. During which theythat period drivers should be subjected to stricter rules and penalties Union-wide when breaking them, for example, due to the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, using unauthorised vehicles, failing to use safety equipment, or driving without a valid driving licence. Enforcement authorities might need to establish a technical zero tolerance threshold for their effective measurements, which should not be higher than 0.2 g/mL, in order to take into account accidental exposure to alcohol. The penalties for such conduct should be effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non‐discriminatorynon-discriminatory and their severity should to the furthest extent possible take into account the Union’s mid-term and long-term goals of halving and nearly eliminating deaths and serious injuries. As regards any other restrictions on novice drivers, Member States should be allowed to freely implement additional rules in their territory. [Am. 30]

Added(31) Minimum standards concerning access to the profession of examiner and examiner training requirements should be established in order to improve the knowledge and skills of examiners, including hazard perception training, thereby ensuring a more objective evaluation of driving licence applicants and achieving greater harmonisation of driving tests. The Commission should be empowered, moreover, to adopt delegated acts to amend and adapt those minimum standards to any technical, operational or scientific developments in this field, including new advanced driver assistance systems, where it becomes necessary. [Am. 31]

Added(32) The concept of normal residence should be defined, in a way that enables resolving issues arising where it is not possible to establish normal residence on the basis of occupational or familial ties. It is also necessary to provide for the possibility for applicants to take the theoretical or practical tests in the Member State of their citizenship in the cases where their Member State of normal residence does not provide the opportunity to take those tests in the official language of the former. Specific rules shouldcould be established for diplomats and their families, where their mission requires them to live abroad for an extended period of time, provided that does not entail additional road safety risks. [Am. 32]

Added(33) Member States should assist each other in the implementation of this Directive. Where possible they should use the EU driving licence network in order to provide such assistance. The EU driving licence network, commonly referred to as ‘RESPER’ is a hub for the exchange of information between national authorities responsible for issuing driving licences and facilitating the implementation of this Directive.

Added(34) The EU driving licence network aims to guarantee the recognition of documents and acquired rights originating in Member States, combat document fraud, avoid the issuance of multiple licences and facilitate the enforcement of driving disqualifications. In particular, Member States should be given the possibility to systematically verify that the reasons, that led to any previously imposed restrictions, suspensions, withdrawals or cancellations of a driving licence or the right to drive, have disappeared. The use of RESPER for the implementation of other acts of the Union should only be permitted as long as those uses are explicitly provided for by this Directive.

Added(35) In order to enable the preparation of meaningful reports on the implementation of this Directive, the Commission should receive information on a yearly basis regarding the number of driving licences issued, renewed, replaced, withdrawn and exchanged, for each category, including data on the issuance and use of mobile driving licences.

Added(35a) During the preparations for the review of this directive, the Commission should take into consideration to the fullest extent that Member States have different geographical and societal challenges they face when aiming to improve road safety. Indeed, while some Member States are successfully aiming to enforce road traffic rules through the so-called demerit point systems, others are choosing different methods, such as imposing stricter sanctions immediately or putting more effort into targeted enforcement and prevention campaigns. Moreover, account should also be taken of the fact that demerit point systems themselves can be significantly different between Member States that choose to apply them. As such, resources and attention should be directed to other measures which can increase road safety, while also letting Member States address their diverse challenges in ways they believe to be the most efficient. [Ams. 247 and 311]

Added(35b) Member States should equally share data on their best practices as regards road safety measures and risk awareness trainings, especially as regards novice drivers and within the lifelong training, use of support system per age group through feedback interventions with proof of participation and recommendations provided by a driving instructor, traffic psychologist or driving examiner, as well as measures to increase road safety among vulnerable road users. [Am. 34]

Added(36) In order to achieve the objectives of this Directive, in particular to adjust its Annexes to any technical, operational or scientific developments, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending Parts A, B and D of Annex I that governs the specifications of physical driving licences; amending Part C of Annex I that lays down the specifications for mobile driving licences; amending Part E of Annex I that governs the rules on the applicable national and Union codes; amending Annexes II, III, V and VI specifying certain minimum requirements concerning the issuance, validity and renewal of driving licences; and amending Annex IV laying down the minimum standards for examiners. Such empowerment should be granted for a period of five years, given the fact that technical, operational and scientific developments in the matters governed by these Annexes occur on a frequent basis. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

Added(37) In a context of gradual digitalisation and automation, of ever more stringent emission reduction requirements of road transport, as well as of constant technological progress of power-driven vehicles, it is necessary to keep all drivers up to date in terms of knowledge about new technologies, road safety and sustainability. The promotion ofMember States should endeavour to promote lifelong training of drivers and incentivise attendance at safe driving courses, including through feedback interventions with proof of participation and recommendations provided by a driving instructor, traffic psychologist or driving examiner, which can contribute to more inclusive mobility. That can be key in keeping experienced drivers’ skills up to date in terms of road safety, new technologies, ecodriving, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions, and speed management. [Am. 35]

Added(38) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Directive, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to specify interoperability features and security measures applicable to the QR codes introduced on physical driving licences; provisions related to interoperability, security and testing of mobile driving licences; the extension of the period of administrative validity of driving licences across the Union in case of a crisis; the content of the self-assessment on physical and mental fitness to be conducted for drivers of group 1; the conditions of the exchange of driving licences from third countries for driving licences issued by Member States without recording the fact of exchange on the driving licence; as well as interoperability between national systems connected to the EU driving licence network and the protection of personal data exchanged in that context. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Added(39) For the sake of consistency, Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which addresses certain matters covered by this Directive, and Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 should be amended.

Added(40) Directive 126/2006/EC and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012 should be repealed.

Added(41) Since the objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States as the rules governing the issuance, renewal, replacement and exchange of driving licences would lead to so diverse requirements, that the level of road safety and free movement of citizens harmonized rules provide for, could not be achieved, such objectives are better achieved at Union level by way of laying down minimum requirements. Therefore the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

Added(42) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 and delivered an opinion on [DD/MM/YYYY].

Added(43) In accordance with the Joint Political Declaration of 28 September 2011 of Member States and the Commission on explanatory documents, Member States have undertaken to accompany, in justified cases, the notification of their transposition measures with one or more documents explaining the relationship between the components of a directive and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments. With regard to this Directive, the legislator considers the transmission of such documents to be justified.

AddedHAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

AddedArticle 1 Subject matter and scope

Added1. This Directive lays down common rules on:

Added(a) the models, standards and categories of driving licences;

Added(b) the issuance, validity, renewal, and mutual recognition of driving licences;

Added(c) certain aspects of the exchange, replacement, withdrawal, restriction, suspension and cancelation of driving licences;

Added(d) certain aspects applicable inter alia to novice drivers. [Am. 36]

Added2. Without prejudice to Articles 12a and 20 of this Directive as well as the right of Member States to add national categories to the driving licences that they issue in accordance with Annex I, this Directive does not apply to power-driven vehicles running on wheels or tracks, having at least two axles, the principal function of which lies in their tractive power, which are speciallyself-propelled mobile machinery falling within the scope of Directive 2006/42/EC, that is designed to pull, push, carry or operate certain tools, machines or trailers used in connection with agricultural or forestry operations, and the use of which for carrying persons or goods by road or drawing,or constructed with the purpose of performing work, such as non-road mobile machinery as defined by [Regulation on the road, vehicles used for the carriage of persons or goods is only a secondary functionapproval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery circulating on public roads and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (2023/0090(COD))]. [Am. 312]

AddedArticle 2 Definitions

AddedFor the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:

Added(1) 'driving licence' means an electronic or physicala document that certifies the right to drive power-driven vehicles and states the conditions under which the holder is authorised to drive , whether in a physical or digital format, or both; [Am. 38]

Added(2) ‘physical driving licence’ means a driving licence in its physical format, issued in accordance with Article 4;

Added(3) ‘mobile driving licence’ means a driving licence in its digital format, issued in accordance with Article 5;

Added(4) 'power-driven vehicle' means any self-propelled vehicle running on a road under its own power, other than a rail-borne vehicle;

Added(5) ‘two-wheel vehicle’ means a vehicle referred to in Article 4(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Added(6) ‘three-wheel vehicle’ means a vehicle referred to in Article 4(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;

Added(7) ‘light quadricycle’ means a vehicle as referred to in Article 4(2), point (f), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;

Added(8) ‘motorcycle’ means a two-wheel vehicle with or without a sidecar, as referred to in Article 4(2), point (c) and (d) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;

Added(9) ‘powered tricycle’ means a vehicle with three symmetrically arranged wheels, as referred to in Article 4(2), point (e) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;

Added(10) ‘motor vehicle' means any power-driven vehicle which is normally used for carrying persons or goods by road or for drawing, on the road, vehicles used for the carriage of persons or goods. This term shall include trolleybuses, that is vehicles connected to an electric conductor and not track-based.

Added(11) ‘heavy quadricycle’ means vehicles as referred to in Article 4(2), point (g), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;

Added(11a) ‘ambulance’ means a vehicle of category M intended for the transport of sick or injured persons and having special equipment for such purpose, as referred to under ‘Criteria for vehicle categorisation’, ‘Special purpose vehicles’, in Annex I, Part A, point 5.3. to Regulation (EU) No 2018/858 of the European Parliament and the Council; [Am. 39]

Added(11b) ‘motor caravan’ means a vehicle category M with a living accommodation area containing seating and a table, separate or folding sleeping berths, cooking facilities as well as cupboards and storage space, all of which shall be rigidly fixed to the living compartment, as referred to under ‘Criteria for vehicle categorisation’, ‘Special purpose vehicles’, in Annex I, part A point 5.1 to Regulation (EU) 2018/858; [Am. 40]

Added(11c) ‘alternatively fuelled vehicle’1a means a motor vehicle powered wholly or in part by an alternative fuel, and which has been approved, pursuant to Regulation EU 2018/858; [Am. 41]

Added(11d) ‘alternative fuels’ mean fuels or power sources which serve, at least partly, as a substitute for fossil oil sources in the energy supply to transport and which have the potential to contribute to its decarbonisation and enhance the environmental performance of the transport sector consisting of:

Added(a) electricity consumed in all types of electric vehicles;

Added(b) hydrogen;

Added(c) natural gas, including biomethane, in gaseous form (Compressed Natural Gas — CNG) and liquefied form (Liquefied Natural Gas — LNG);

Added(d) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG);

Added(e) mechanical energy from on-board storage/on-board sources, including waste heat;

Added(f) any other ‘CO2 neutral fuel’ that means all fuels defined by Directive (EU) 2018/2001 where the emissions of the fuel in use (eu) can be taken to be net zero, meaning for instance that the CO2 equivalent of the carbon incorporated in the chemical composition of the fuel in use (eu) is of biogenic origin and/or has been captured, so avoiding being emitted as CO2 into the atmosphere, or has been captured from ambient air including:

Added(i) renewable and/or synthetic fuels, such as biofuel, biogas, biomass fuel, renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuel of non- biological origin (RFNBO) or a recycled carbon fuel (RCF);

Added(ii) other fuels not listed in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 may fall within the meaning of CO2 neutral fuel provided that they meet those criteria and the sustainability criteria of that Directive and associated delegated acts; and

Added(iii) a mixture of two or more CO2 neutral fuels shall be considered to be a CO2 neutral fuel; [Am. 42]

Added(12) ‘driving disqualification’ means any decision which results in the withdrawal, cancellation, restriction or suspension of the driving licence or of the right to drive of a driver of a power-driven vehicle and which is no longer subject to a right of appeal. The measure may constitute either a primary, secondary or supplementary penalty or a safety measure.

AddedArticle 3 Union standard specifications on driving licences and mutual recognition

Added1. Member States shall ensure that their national driving licences are issued in accordance with the provisions of this Directive and comply with the Union standard specifications and other criteria pursuant to:

Added(a) Article 4 for physical driving licences;

Added(b) Article 5 for mobile driving licences.

Added2. Member States shall ensure that physical and mobile driving licences issued to the same person are fully equivalent between them, and state the exact same set of rights and conditions under which that person is authorised to drive.

Added3. Member States shall not, as a prerequisite, require the possession of a physical or mobile driving licence from the applicant when issuing, replacing, renewing, or exchanging a driving licence in the other format.

Added4. By … [date-of-adoption+4 years], Member States shall ensure that onlyapplicants are issued both a mobile driving licences are issuedlicence and a physical driving licence by default. Until that date, Member States may decide to issue mobile driving licences. [Am. 44]

Added5. By way of derogation from paragraph 4, upon request of the applicant, Member States shall provide the opportunity for afor a right for applicants upon request to renounce either physical driving licence to be issued instead of, or together with, a mobileor digital driving licence. Member States shall facilitate such requests on the part of applicants, and not seek to influence them in any way. [Am. 45]

Added5a. By way of derogation from paragraph 5, Member States shall give applicants who have renounced one of the formats of their driving licence referred to in paragraph 4 the right to request the issue or reissue of that renounced format. Any issue or reissue of a renounced format shall be provided without undue delay and no later than 2 weeks from the date of the applicant's request. [Am. 46]