EU is introducing new revised rules on driving licence

• New training requirements: New elements will be added to drivers’ training such as: blind spot risks, driver-assistance systems, the safe opening of doors, and phone usage distraction risks. New training and testing requirements will also place a greater emphasis on risk awareness of pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
• Validity and health checks: Driving licences should be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, with the possibility for Member States to reduce the validity period to 10 years if a driving licence is used as a national ID. Driving licences for trucks and buses will be valid for five years. EU countries may reduce the validity period for drivers aged 65 or older in order to submit holders to an increased frequency of medical checks or refresher courses.
• Before qualifying for their first licence or when applying for a renewal, a driver should pass a medical check, including tests of their eyesight and cardiovascular condition.
• Novice and accompanied drivers: New EU rules will set a probationary period for inexperienced drivers of at least two years. These drivers will face stricter rules and sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol and not using safety belts or child-restraint systems. In addition, 17-year-olds will be able to get a licence to drive a car (category B), but they will have to drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they are 18. The new rules will also allow 18-year-olds to obtain a licence to drive a truck (category C) and 21-year-olds to drive a bus (category D), provided they hold a certificate of professional competence. Otherwise, a person will have to be 21 and 24 respectively to drive these vehicles.
• Digital driving licence: A digital driving licence, accessible on a mobile phone, is intended to gradually become the main licence format in the EU. However, drivers should have the rights to request a physical licence.
• Driving disqualification: Driving licence’s withdrawal, suspension or restriction imposed in a country, where the offence was committed, will be passed on to the EU country which issued the driving licence in order to ensure the cross-border enforcement of penalties. National authorities will have to inform each other about decisions on driving disqualifications related to the most severe traffic offences – including drink or drug driving, involvement in a fatal traffic incident, or excessive speeding (e.g. driving 50 km/h faster than the speed limit).

In addition, detailed provisions on driving licence categories (Art. 6), staging and equivalences between categories (Art. 9) and on exchange of driving licences issued by third countries (Art. 15) have been introduced.