Why will new EU driving licence rules take 4 years to come into force?

"The changes, the EC says, "aim to reduce the number of crashes on EU roads and undue administrative burden on citizens and authorities." Figures show that last year alone 19,940 died on EU roads. New rules include, among many other measures, the introduction of digital driving licenses and bloc-wide driving bans for dangerous drivers. All change on European roads then, you might assume - but not quite, or not yet, it turns out."

"One of the headline changes is a new directive introducing a fully digital driving licence on mobile phones to be issued into the EU Digital Identity Wallet, as well as imposing EU-wide bans on drivers who lose their licence in one country. The aim is to streamline administrative processes and ease cross-border driving, but as The Local has covered previously, drivers will still be able to ask for physical licenses."

"Similarly, the new rules also establish mutual recognition of driving disqualifications so drivers who commit serious offences in one Member State face consistent consequences across the EU. The other major change is that compulsory medical exams for drivers will also be introduced . Though the exact details are to be decided on a country-by-country basis, medical checks are being brought in to ensure "more systematic checks of the fitness to drive" - especially older drivers."

European Commission announced new driving licence rules intended to reduce crashes and administrative burdens. Measures include a fully digital driving licence to be issued into the EU Digital Identity Wallet and EU-wide bans and mutual recognition of driving disqualifications so serious offences carry consistent consequences across Member States. Drivers will still be able to request physical licences. Compulsory medical exams will be introduced with country-by-country details to enable more systematic fitness-to-drive checks, particularly for older drivers. Many of the new rules will not become applicable on roads for up to four years. The regulations also include measures addressing younger drivers.

Read at The Local France