SUV, speed, alcohol, license, towards driving reform in Europe?

We told you about it a few days ago: Karima Delli, environmentalist MEP, wanted to introduce a specific license for SUVs. A sort of B+ license, intended for drivers over 21 years old with at least two years of B license behind them.

A project she had been working on for a long time. The latter presented, Monday September 18, work which is intended to be much more detailed. And they don’t just affect a “simple” special SUV license, far from it…

Strengthen the driving license

Its work concerns measures that would be implemented across the entire European Union. Namely, the creation by all EU states of a points license. As Karima Delli estimates on X (ex-Twitter), “the fear of losing points helps you win lives” :

Today, I am presenting my draft report on the revision of the rules on driving licenses in the EU: general introduction of the points-based license in Europe, a specific license for SUVs, speed limits, etc.
What matters is saving more lives.#Thread pic.twitter.com/PenJQMX0Pf

— Karima Delli (@KarimaDelli) September 18, 2023

Still on the subject of the driving license, the MEP also proposes that the minimum age for taking this exam cannot be lowered below 18 years. This is in contradiction with what the French government plans in particular, which intends to lower it to 17 years.

Another sensitive subject: that of a renewal of this famous permit. According to Karima Delli’s proposal, the latter would be granted for 10 years. You would then have to undergo a medical examination to ensure your fitness to drive. This is for both young people and seniors. Remember that in France, a medical examination may be obligatory in order to recover your license after an accident.

Karima Delli also wants “establish a framework establish a harmonized framework across the EU for driving instructors, as well as common rules regarding the training of future drivers”

Slow down, again and again…

What would a road safety plan be without continued reductions in speed limits? Cars are progressing, as are technologies and training, but the authorities’ plans are not changing. As demonstrated by Karima Delli, who highlights the gain in terms of road safety and pollution:

“I also propose stricter speed limits in the EU, limits which would depend on the type of license obtained and the vehicle driven.” “Slowing down reduces road deaths and also reduces automobile pollution, which represents 70% of greenhouse gases.”

In France, however, the results of the fight against speeding are rather dull. Since 2013, road mortality has not decreased, remaining around 3,500 deaths per year (excluding 2020-2021, Covid years). This despite the fact that the number of speed cameras has exploded, as have speed limits of 80 km/h or 30 km/h in town.

Protect the most vulnerable users

At the same time, Karima Delli also intends to address the subject of alcohol by establishing “zero tolerance” on this subject. Finally, it intends to place particular emphasis on the protection of users during training or exams.

A subject which is similar to the new Highway Code, unveiled this September 12 in France. The latter is intended to be simpler and more focused on sharing the road.

In the meantime, this text will follow a long legislative journey. “Now that this text has been published, we will enter, in the coming weeks, a phase of negotiations with the other political families in the European Parliament”, explains Karima Delli. The member states will discuss for their part, under the leadership of the Spanish authorities, since Spain currently presides over the Council of the European Union.

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