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."

The European Commission adopted a package of driving rules intended to reduce crashes and cut administrative burdens, noting 19,940 road deaths last year. Key measures include a fully digital driving licence issued into the EU Digital Identity Wallet, EU-wide bans for drivers who lose licences in one Member State, and mutual recognition of driving disqualifications across the bloc. Compulsory medical exams will be introduced with country-specific details, focusing on more systematic fitness-to-drive checks, especially for older drivers. Physical licences will remain available on request. Most measures may not be applicable on the roads for up to four years.

Read at The Local Germany