The change aims to ensure that cases are treated uniformly across Europe. EU warns: pay attention to serious infractions. In Portugal, fines for speeding and the number of accidents are increasing.
The 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) have agreed to reform the rules related to driving licenses, in order to improve the state of road safety in Europe.
The initiative, led by the European Commission, proposes measures to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions for serious infringements across the EU, even when drivers cross borders.
One of the main changes concerns the suspension of driving licenses. Under the proposal, the issuing country must, under certain conditions and in accordance with its national legislation, apply sanctions decided by another Member State, in order to harmonize the application of penalties, while respecting national sovereignties.
“The Member State that issued the driving license will be obliged to apply a disqualification of the right to drive imposed on a road traffic offender by another Member State where the serious road traffic offense was committed”, explains the 6 December of the European Council.
The reform includes a renewed system of mutual recognition of driving licenses, currently under discussion as part of a broader European directive. This mechanism provides for the withdrawal of letter and ensuring that suspensions are recognized and applied uniformly across the EU, to reissue of the letterwith clear rules for the reinstatement of sanctioned drivers and harmonized definitions, with the inclusion of specific offenses to ensure consistency in sanctions applied by different Member States.
Serious infractions that can lead to suspension include speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and behavior that puts other users at risk.
“Drivers who have been deprived of their driving license in one Member State for serious infringements of traffic rules will be removed from the roads across the EU.”
The accident rate, in numbers
With about 20,000 deaths annually in road accidents in Europe, many associated with risky behavior, the European Commission is committed to this reform to reduce fatalities and reinforce citizens’ trust in the European road justice system.
The agreement between transport ministers paves the way for final negotiations between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, with the aim of implementing the new rules in the coming years.
Despite challenges such as adapting national systems and harmonizing definitions of infractions, this advance represents a significant step in creating a safer and more integrated road space.
Em Portugalmore than half a million traffic violations were detected in the first seven months of the year, plus 6.2% than in the same period in 2023, the majority being due to speeding, revealed the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR).
More than 20,000 road accidents were recorded on Portuguese roads until July and caused 266 deaths and 1,451 serious injuries, which confirms the growing trend of accidents since 2014.
