Driving license rules – fitness to drive: the EU relies on self-assessment

Shorter deadlines for renewing driving licenses at older ages should also be left to the respective countries, according to a statement from the council on Monday. The possible health check when renewing a driver’s license, as is customary in some EU countries, caused a stir in Austria. One design stipulated that elderly people had to have their driving skills checked every five years.

Austria has always taken a very negative position here, Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) said on Monday before the Council meeting in Brussels. She assumes that such health checks will remain off the table after negotiations with the EU Parliament.

Gewessler advocates ‘self-evaluation’
Be that as it may, she has clearly advocated that Austria should rely on drivers’ self-assessment when implementing the directive. This is the most practical solution, says Gewessler. The minister also spoke out against shortening the validity period of driving licenses for the elderly.

In a next step, the so-called trialogue negotiations with the European Parliament can now begin. However, EU parliamentarians must first agree on their own position; the relevant committee will vote on Thursday.

According to a press release, Andreas Schieder, head of the SPÖ delegation to the EU Parliament, expects that “reason will prevail” here. “Especially when it comes to suggestions such as mandatory medical checks for seniors or staggered speed limits for novice drivers. These are ineffective and discriminatory.”