Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Added(c) licences issued for category C1E or CE shall be valid for category D1E as long as their holders are entitled to drive vehicles in category D1;

Added(ca) licences issued for category CE and DE shall be valid for categories C and D respectively; [Am. 80]

Added(d) licences issued for category CE and DE shall be valid for combinations of vehicles in categories C1E and D1E respectively;

Added(da) licences issued for category C1E and D1E shall be valid for categories C1 and D1 respectively; [Am. 81]

Added(e) licences issued for any category shall be valid for vehicles in category AM. However, for driving licences issued on its territory, a Member State may limit the equivalences for category AM to categories A1, A2 and A, if that Member State imposes a practical test as a condition for obtaining category AM;

Added(f) licences issued for category A2 shall also be valid for category A1;

Added(g) licences issued for categories A, B, C or D shall be valid for categories A1, A2, B1, C1, or D1 respectively;

Added(h) two2 years after a driving licence, granted for category B, was issued for the first time, it shall be valid for driving the alternatively fuelled vehicles, as referred to in Article 2 [11c] of thisof Council Directive 96/53/ECfor categories M and N established by Regulation EU 2018/858, that are intended to be used on public roads, including those designed and constructed in one or more stages, with a maximum authorised mass above 3 500kg but not exceeding 4 250 kg without a trailer, and for the transport of passengers with a maximum seat capacity of eight seats excluding the driver. Those vehicles may be combined with a trailer or semi-trailer with the maximum authorised mass of this combination not exceeding 5 000 kg; [Am. 82]

Added(ha) 2 years after a driving licence, granted for category B, was issued for the first time, it shall be valid for driving ambulances as defined in Article 2 [(11a)] and other special usage vehicles, as well as motor caravans, as defined in Article 2 [(11b)] of this Directive that are up to 4250 kg;

AddedIn the periodic reports to the European Parliament and the Council referred to in Article 20 of this Directive, the Commission shall review the impact of technological advances in the field of emergency medical equipment and/or of the use of alternative fuels on the total mass of ambulances. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 21 of this Directive to amend this Directive by updating the maximum weight of ambulances based on the conclusions of those periodic reports.

AddedThe Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 21, to amend this Directive by updating the maximum weight of vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph of this point in order to take account of the impact of technical advances and the development of alternative fuels for ambulances; [Am. 83]

Added(hb) 2 years after a driving licence granted for category BE, was issued for the first time, it shall authorise driving alternatively fuelled vehicles, as defined in Article 2 (11c) of this Directive for categories M and N established by Regulation EU 2018/858, that are intended to be used on public roads, including those designed and constructed in one or more stages, with a maximum authorised mass above 3 500 kg but not exceeding 4 250 kg without a trailer. Those vehicles may be combined with a trailer or semi-trailer where the maximum authorised mass of the trailer or semi-trailer not exceeding 3 500 kg; [Am. 84]

Added(hc) 3 years after a driving licence, granted for category C1, was issued for the first time, it shall be valid for driving alternatively fuelled vehicles, as defined in Article 2 [(11 c)] of this Directive, with a maximum authorized mass above 7 500 kg but not exceeding 8 250 kg without a trailer and which are designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. Those vehicles may be combined with a trailer having maximum authorized mass not exceeding 750 kg; [Am. 85]

Added(hd) 3 years after a driving licence, granted for category C1E, was issued for the first time, it shall be valid for driving alternatively fuelled vehicles referred to in Article 9(2), point (hc) and its trailer or semi-trailer having a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg provided that the authorised mass of the combination does not exceed 12 750 kg; [Am. 86]

Added(he) 3 years after a driving licence, granted for category D1, was issued for the first time, it shall be valid for vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than 22 passengers in addition to the driver and with a maximum length not exceeding 8 meters. [Am. 88]

AddedIn its second implementation report to the European Parliament and the Council referred to in Article 20 of this directive, the Commission shall assess the impact of development and deployment of alternatively fuelled vehicles and/or the application of [point (h) to point (hd) of this Article] on road safety. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 21 to amend this Directive by updating the mass thresholds of alternatively fuelled vehicles. [Am. 89]

Added3. For driving on their territory, Member States may grant the following equivalences:

Added(a) powered tricycles under a licence for category B, for powered tricycles with a power exceeding 15 kW provided that the holder of the licence for category B is at least 21 years old;

Added(b) category A1 motorcycles under a licence for category B.

AddedThe equivalences provided for in the first subparagraph shall be mutually recognised by the Member States that granted them.

AddedMember States shall not indicate on the driving licence that a holder is entitled to drive the vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph, except by means of the relevant Union codes specified in Annex I, Part E.

AddedMember States shall inform the Commission without delay about equivalences referred to in the first subparagraph that are granted on their territory, including the national codes which may have been used before the entry into force of this Directive. The Commission shall make this information available to Member States for the purpose of facilitating the application of this paragraph.

Added4. Member States may authorise the driving on their territory of the following categories of vehicles:

Added(a) vehicles of category D1 with a maximum authorised mass of 3 500 kg, excluding any specialised equipment intended for the carriage of passengers with disabilities, by drivers over 21 years old holding a driving licence granted for category B, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued for the first time and provided that the vehicles are being used by non-commercial bodies for social purposes and that the driver provides his or her services on a voluntary basis;

Added(b) vehicles of a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3 500 kg by drivers over 21 years old holding a driving licence granted for category B, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued for the first time , provided that all of the following conditions are met:

Added(i) those vehicles are intended to be used, when stationary, only as an instructional or recreational area;

Added(ii) that they are used by non-commercial bodies for social purposes;

Added(iii) they have been modified so that they may not be used either for the transport of more than nine persons or for the transport of any goods other than those strictly necessary for their purposes;

Added(c) vehicles of category B with a maximum authorised mass of 2 500 kg and a maximum speed physically limited to 45 km/h by drivers below 21 years old holding a driving licence granted for category B1.

AddedMember States shall not indicate on the driving licence that a holder is entitled to drive the vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), except by means of relevant national codes.

AddedMember States shall inform the Commission of any authorisations granted in accordance with this paragraph.

Added4a. Member States shall be entitled to authorise to drive vehicles of category D or D1, in their territory, to the holders of driving licence granted for category C, provided that no other persons are transported in the vehicle and the driver is a person executing the roadworthiness test in accordance with Directive 2014/45/EU, or a mechanic of the car-repair shop performing a test ride, both within 5 km radius from the workshop, once the vehicle has been repaired, or maintenance or inspection drive purposes. The Member States shall inform the Commission on any authorisations granted in accordance with this paragraph. [Am. 91]

AddedArticle 10 Issue, validity and renewal

Added1. Driving licences shall be issued only to applicants who meet the following conditions:

Added(a) they have passed a test of skills and behaviour and a theoretical test and who meet the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving , in accordance with the provisions of Annexes II and III;

Added(b) as regards category AM they have passed a theory test only; Member States may require applicants to pass a test of skills and behaviour and a medical examination for this category.

AddedFor three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles within this category, Member States may impose a distinctive test of skills and behaviour. For the differentiation of vehicles in category AM, a national code may be inserted on the driving licence;

Added(c) as regards category A2 or category A, and on the condition that they have acquired a minimum of two years' experience on a motorcycle in category A1 or in category A2 respectively, either:

Added(i) passed a test of skills and behaviour only, or

Added(ii) completed a training pursuant to Annex VI;

Added(d) they have completed a training or passed a test of skills and behaviour, or completed a training and passed a test of skills and behaviour pursuant to Annex V as regards category B for driving a vehicle combination referred to in Article 6(1), point (c)(ii), third paragraph;

Added(e) they have their normal residence in the territory of the Member State issuing the licence, or can produce evidence that they have been studying there for at least six months.

Added1a. Member States shall adopt the necessary provisions in order to ensure that persons who have a disability and whose test is carried out in a vehicle adapted for their disability are exempted from undertaking tasks incompatible with their disability. [Am. 94]

Added2. The minimum duration of the administrative validity of driving licences issued by Member States shall be as follows: [Am. 95]

Added(a) 15 years for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1 and BE;

Added(b) five years for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 and D1E.

AddedThe renewal of a driving licence may trigger a new administrative validity period for another category or categories the licence holder is entitled to drive, insofar as this is in conformity with the conditions laid down in this Directive.

AddedThe presence of a microchip or QR code pursuant to Article 4(5) and Article 4(6) respectively shall not be a prerequisite for the validity of a driving licence. The loss or unreadability of the microchip or of the QR code, or any other damage thereto, shall not affect the validity of the driving licence.

AddedMember States may limit the period of administrative validity of driving licences issued to novice drivers within the meaning of Article 15(1), for any category in order to apply specific measures to such drivers, for the purpose of improving their road safety.

AddedWhile respecting the principle of subsidiarity, Member States may limit the period of administrative validity of individual driving licences for any category, while considering medical fitness and ability to drive safely in accordance with Annex III, in case it is found necessary to apply an increased frequency of medical checks or other specific measures, including restrictions for traffic offenders, in order to further improve road safety measures. [Ams. 253, 315 and 335]

AddedMember States shall reduce the periods of administrative validity set out in the first subparagraph to five years or less for driving licences of holders residing on their territory having reached the age of 70, in order to apply an increased frequency of medical checks or other specific measures, including refresher courses. This reduced period of administrative validity shall only be applied upon renewal of the driving licence. [Am. 97]

AddedMember States may reduce the period of administrative validity set out in this paragraph of driving licences of persons who have been granted a temporary residence permit or who enjoy temporary protection or adequate protection under national law on their territory. For that purpose, this reduced period of administrative validity shall be equal to or shorter than the administrative validity of the temporary residence permit or of the temporary protection or adequate protection.

Added3. The renewal of driving licences when their administrative validity expires shall be subject to both of the following conditions:

Added(a) continuing compliance with the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving set out in Annex III;

Added(b) normal residence in the territory of the Member State issuing the licence, or evidence that the applicant has been studying there for at least six months, at the time they submit their application.

Added4. In case of a crisis Members States may extend the period of administrative validity of driving licences that would otherwise expire, for a maximum period of six months. The extension may be renewed where the crisis persists.

AddedAny such extension shall be duly reasoned and notified immediately to the Commission. The Commission shall immediately publish this information in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States shall recognise the validity of driving licences whose period of administrative validity has been extended under this paragraph.

AddedWhere a crisis affects several Member States, the Commission may adopt implementing acts in order to extend the period of administrative validity of all or certain categories of driving licences that would otherwise expire. That extension may not exceed six months and may be renewed where the crisis persists. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3).

AddedWhere a Member State is not, and is not likely to be, affected by difficulties that rendered the renewal of driving licences impracticable as a consequence of the crisis referred to in the third subparagraph, or has taken appropriate national measures to mitigate the crises’ impact, that Member State may decide not to apply the extension introduced by the implementing act referred to in the third subparagraph, after first informing the Commission. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof and publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

AddedFor the purposes of this paragraph, a crisis means an exceptional, unexpected and sudden, natural or man-made event of extraordinary nature and scale that takes place inside or outside of the Union, with significant direct or indirect impacts on the area of road transport and that also prevents or significantly impairs the possibility for the holders of driving licences or relevant national authorities from carrying out the necessary procedures for their renewal.