The European Commission proposes the creation of a driving license in digital version, which would be recognized by all EU Member States.
Identity documents or documents of some importance for our daily life have been evolving rapidly in recent years. The digital identity card has begun to be deployed and the dematerialized Vitale card is being tested throughout the country, before being offered to all beneficiaries by the end of 2025. And why not the driving licence, wonders the European Commission ? Brussels has just proposed the creation of a digital permit, which would be valid throughout the territory of the Union.
A digital driving license to simplify procedures
Can the European Union become the first region in the world to acquire a digital driving license valid throughout its territory? In any case, this is the bet launched by the Commission, which made various proposals at the beginning of March to modernize the rules on driving licenses, such as zero tolerance towards young people in a state of intoxication, For example.
The flagship proposal to be retained, therefore, is that of the dematerialized driving license, with recognition of the latter between Member States, which would offer, as we can guess, certain advantages… especially for the authorities.
The processes for replacing, renewing or exchanging the license would all be transposed online and every EU citizen could very simply exchange their traditional driving license for a European Union driving licence.
A common platform for all European citizens to pay fines received in the EU
Security is one of the priorities of the EU, which recalls that in 2019, around four out of ten cross-border offenses were committed without the perpetrator being identified, or without the latter paying the fine. ” Today’s proposals aim to remedy this problem by giving law enforcement authorities access to national driving license registers “, explains the authority.
More generally, the Commission advocates cooperation between Member States during the investigation of infringements, which would involve strengthening the national contact points already in place. All of this would increase the ability of states to sanction an offender from another EU country, and would ensure equal treatment between residents and non-residents.
An IT portal would then be created to allow EU citizens to pay any fines they may receive, and to access essential traffic rules and information in force in each EU country.
The examinations – we think of the Highway Code and the driving test – could undergo some transformations, if the proposals of the European Commission were accepted. Brussels evokes the need to take into account the transition to zero-emission vehicles, referring here to the scheduled end of gasoline vehicles, which should take place from 2035 in the area. Tests could also be more related to driver assistance technologies and automated systems.
Source : European Commission
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