EU gears up for smart card driving licences

PLASTIC smart cards are to replace the current three-page paper driving licences in a European-wide crackdown on forged and illegal licences.

The cards are an effort to do away with driving licence tourism where people disqualified in one member state apply for a licence in a neighbouring one to beat a driving ban.

The credit card-size licence, details of which were announced in Brussels yesterday, will replace more than 80 different types of licence issued across the European Union.

The new cards, which will be valid for 10 years, will have to be renewed regularly with an up-to-date photograph and the latest anti-fraud protection. They will have microchips, although this is not mandatory where information on driving offences can be included.

Commissioner Loyola de Palacio denied the move was a big brother approach to driving licences.

“The microchips are intended only to contain the same information as is written on the licence. Any other information will have to comply with the EU’s protection of personal data,” she said.

Ms de Palacio said because of the variety of mainly paper licences it was almost impossible to prevent forgeries.

“It is time to equip European drivers with anti-fraud driving licences which would guarantee their right to drive vehicles for which they have the required qualifications.

“This will also facilitate the work of the administrative and enforcement authorities and should contribute to safety on European roads” she said.

More than 200 million people hold driving licences in the EU. To prevent an administrative nightmare, no single date has been set for the changeover.

Instead as the current licences run out the cards will be issued.

Other changes announced yesterday included limiting the age at which people can drive the most powerful motorcycles depending on the technical characteristics of the motorcycle and the experience of the driver.

There will be new rules to ensure drivers of the most powerful trucks and buses have minimum experience before being licensed to drive them and a new licence category for mopeds which will include a written theory test.

Medical checks for professional drivers are to be harmonised across all member states while minimum qualifications and training are to be introduced for driving instructors.