EU announce plans for single driving licence

The European Union announced proposals today for a single, fraud-proof driving licence.

The licence will be credit-card sized and contain a microchip holding owner information.

“The use of this microchip will be strictly limited to driving licences,” the European Commission said, in an effort to head off concerns about the storage of personal information.

The plan will have to be approved by governments and the European Parliament before it becomes law. The commission said drivers will not have to exchange their old licences, which will remain valid.

The European Commission proposes motorcycle and car licences be valid for 10 years, or five years if the holder is older than 65.

EU Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio said in a statement she wanted to increase road safety across the EU and put an end to “driving licence tourism.”