Η ΕΥΘΥΤΑ-Παρατηρητήριο Οδικής Ασφάλειας Ρόδου, μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ομοσπονδίας Θυμάτων Τροχαίων (FEVR), σε συνεργασία με όλα τα μέλης της και ως μέλος της European Transport Safety Council απέστειλε την σχετική επιστολή.
Η επιστολή αφορά την αναθεώρηση της οδηγίας για την άδεια οδήγησης: Τροπολογίες του ΕΚ
Οι συνεδριάσεις θα συνεχιστούν με ψηφοφορία στην Επιτροπή Μεταφορών που αναμένεται τον Δεκέμβριο.Η ΕΥΘΥΤΑ-Παρατηρητήριο Οδικής Ασφάλειας Ρόδου, μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ομοσπονδίας Θυμάτων Τροχαίων (FEVR), σε συνεργασία με όλα τα μέλης της και ως μέλος της European Transport Safety Council απέστειλε την σχετική επιστολή.
Dear MEP,
I’m writing to you on behalf of EFTHITA-Observatory Road Safety Rhodes, member of European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR). We are members of the European Transport Safety Council, an NGO dedicated to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We’re writing with our input on the revision of the Driving Licence Directive currently being discussed in the European Parliament.
20, 678 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2022 and more than 110,00 were seriously injured. Around 40% of road deaths in the EU occur in collisions involving one or more young drivers or motorcycle riders. Both road deaths and serious injuries carry a huge cost to society. In monetary terms alone, the yearly cost of road collisions in the EU has been estimated at around EUR 280 billion.
This revision of driver licensing rules can help prevent many of these deaths and injuries. In this briefing we will set out our key calls for support and how theproposed amendments can support them.
You can find the full ETSC position on the Driving Licence Directive https://etsc.eu/position-paper-revision-of-the-driving-licence-directive-2006-126-ec/ as well as other relevant background reports listed below.
The Draft Report also builds on many of the points included in the recently adopted European Parliament Own Initiative Report on Road Safety. See Point 39 on driver licencing. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0211_EN.html
Amendments to support as part of general introduction: 1, 2
Graduated Driving Licence (GDL)
ETSC and European Federation of Road Traffic Victims call for a full Graduated Driving Licence. GDLs usually have three parts: the learner phase, the intermediate phase and the beginner’s licence phase. They are primarily used to address young drivers’ inexperience, but they also serve to address risk-taking behaviour which can result from age-related factors. A full GDL includes a probationary period with restrictions, stricter penalties in case of misdemeanour, accompanied driving.
Probationary period and Restrictions:The EC introduce the idea of a probationary period of at least 2 years and included Zero Tolerance for Drink driving and accompanied driving but as a pre-condition to allowing a lower start age for Category C (truck).
Amendments not to support : 398, 401, 402, 403 , 424, 425, 429, 432,428, 430, 431, 433, 434,
Restrictions:Draft Report proposes to add zero tolerance for drugs, speed limits, night time driving for the probationary period. As well as a calling on MSs to consider introducing a Zero Tolerance for Drink driving for all drivers.
We support all of these but would further add a peer passenger ban during the probationary period.
Amendments to support: 29, 107, 110, 111, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 549, 555, 557, 558, 559, 563, 567
Amendments not to support: 550, 553, 554, 556, 560, 564, 565, 568, 569
Feedback Session: The Draft Report also proposes a feedback session with an instructor at the end of the probationary period.
Amendments to support: 112, 324
Accompanied
Driving:Accompanied driving for Cat B (and Cat C)
is deleted by the Draft Report.
We would support accompanied driving to be re-inserted as an amendment but only
for Cat B and not linked to a reduction in min age for solo driving.
Amendments not to support: 247,518-540
Demerit Point Systems and link to Driver Disqualification.
Non-financial penalties such as demerit point systems have a strong deterrent effect and can improve road safety. EU Member States should specifically be encouraged to introduce stricter demerit point systems during the probationary period for newly-licensed drivers with penalties such as loss of licence or mandatory traffic risk awareness training.
The Draft Report includes: Penalty Points for all drivers with stronger consequences for novices. We support this strongly.
Amendments to support: 24, 25, 26, 32, 38, 118, 120 105, 262, 274, 289, 290, 503, 587
411, 490
B+ Category
Young people are over-represented in crashes, deaths and injuries andthis new proposal from the EP rapporteur is in line with graduated access enabling younger drivers to gain experience before graduating to driving larger vehicles. Having polled our ETSC membership this approach would be supported by a majority with the suggestion that the power/weight ratio would be preferable, along with a higher limit for electric vehicles in case weight alone is the chosen metric.
Italy already uses vehicle power as well as the power/weight ratio as a basis for its first-year restriction on the cars that can be used by new drivers. Research suggests this has been an effective policy for reducing crash rates: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/temporary-restrictions-use-high-power-vehicles-significantly-reduce-teen-driver. A number of member states already have additional restrictions on new drivers with regard to drink-driving and retesting requirements in case of speeding etc as part of their graduated driver licencing system.
Amendments to support:16, 17, 30, 61, 390, 552, 561
Our priority would be to integrate vans.
Vans We are calling for professional van drivers (<3.5t) to be required to undertake additional and regularly updated professional training under the CPC Directive. Today the EU only requires this for lorry and bus drivers.
Amendments to Support: 17, 61, 626, 732
EC proposed extension of Category B from 3500 kg to 4250 kg for Alternatively fuelled vehicles.
Amendments not to support; 323, 324, 325, 418
Amendments to support: 426, 427 (only for ambulances), 436
B1 Category
The Draft Report removes references to the Commission’s proposal that Member States should allow 16-year-olds to drive any type of car, as long as it is fitted with a speed limiter set at 45 km/h. That idea was strongly criticised by ETSC in April, and also when it was first suggested by the Finnish government several years ago. We support this deletion.
Amendments to Support: 55, 375, 438, 89
Amendments not to support: 320, 374, 376, 420, 421, 439, 440, 440, 441, 442
Content for Training
The fundamental goal of pre-licence training and the licensing process should be to create drivers who are safe, and not just technically competent, by the time they are permitted to drive unsupervised. Driver training and testing needs to be updated and the EC already included new topics such as training young drivers to use the new in-vehicle safety technologies and hazard perception.
The Draft Report has added many useful suggestions on driver training such as first aid training and how to react when an emergency vehicle approaches. We support this.
Amendments to support: 228, 229, 240, 265, 266, 267, 608, 609, 610, 613, 614, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 638, 650, 682, 683, 684, 686, 687, 688, 690, 691, 700, 701, 702, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 716, 719, 720, 721, 722, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 732
Road Safety Education-Pre-Licence Content for Education
We support the proposal to call uponMember States should introduce road safety education in their mandatory school curricula. In addition, that road safety education should include adequate information on mobility alternatives with an emphasis on the benefits of active mobility.
Amendments to Support: 14, 223, 270, 572
Minimum standards for Driver Training
Quality standards for types of training should be defined in the context of the DLD review based on competences that have to be acquired. Training should encourage young learners to think about their limitations as a road user, their motives for wanting to learn to drive or ride, their attitude to safety and the specific risks they face. Research has concluded that higher levels in the so-called Goals for Driver Education Matrix (GDE) matrixduring driver education help produce more inherently safe drivers.
Draft Report has added proposals Annex VIa and we support it strongly.
Amendments to support: 34
PTW Safety
Amendments to support: 81, 315, 316, 317, 318
Amendments to delete: 319, 347
Minimum standards for PTW Rider Training
High quality training is also crucial for safe motorcycling.
We would supportmaking theoretical and practical training mandatory to obtain an AM and all other categories of motorcycle licence.
Amendments to support: 92, 404,
Minimum Requirements for Driver Trainers
Set minimum standards for driving trainers not yet included in the DLD.
The Draft Report has added proposals Annex VIa this and we support it fully.
Amendments to support: 20,29, 34, 91, 191, 575 (as a delegated act to be prepared by the EC), 591 and 793.
Minimum Standards for Driver and PTW Rider Testing
The current DLD Directive sets minimum requirements for testing. Testing plays an important role in setting the competency levels required for licensing and judging a candidate’s performance in a number of areas. Some additions should be made.
EC included hazard perception, which is much welcome.
EP Draft Report added independent driving.
Draft Report added AM (moped) test of skills and behaviour and a theoretical test.
Amendments to support: 19, 196, 443, 444
Driving Examiners
The current Driving Licence Directive set minimum standards for driving examiners (Annex IV).
We support further improvements set out below.
EC added periodic training.
Minimum education is in the Draft Report.
Support training the examiners in hazard perception.
Support training the examiners in communication skills.
Support assuring the quality of driving examinations through independent exam organisations and their objective evaluation.
Amendments to support: 261
Amendments not to support: 573, 574
Minimum Age Reduction for Solo Driving
The EP Draft Report is against any reduction to the current minimum ages for driving in Europe.
We support this. The younger a person starts unrestricted solo driving, the more likely it is that they will have a fatal collision, particularly below the age of 18. Raising, or not lowering, the minimum age for solo driving, will save lives, by virtue of the fact that it prevents young and inexperienced drivers from solo driving until they are older.
We would be particularly against any reduction in minimum age for solo driving for the Category C and D drivers. Shortages of professional coach and truck drivers should be managed by increasing attractiveness of the sector, by improving working conditions and wages to retain current workers and attract new transport workers, not by reducing the minimum age requirements, which would increase risks to all road users. See ETSC specific briefing on this presenting data: https://etsc.eu/briefing-reducing-the-minimum-age-for-driving-an-hgv-bus-or-coach-in-the-eu-would-increase-safety-risks/
Amendments to support: 27,70, 71, 74, 347, 350, 372, 504, 505, 595
Amendments not to support: 13 218, 219, 220, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 377, 378, 380, 381, 382, 383, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 394, 395, 396, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 516, 517, 543, 596, 597, 598,, 599, 603, 604, 605, 607
Medical Fitness Checks
Annex III of the current EU directive sets minimum standards for physical and mental fitness to drive. The directive states that if an applicant for a driving licence has at least one of the conditions listed in Annex III, they must undergo a medical examination prior to obtaining their licence.
We have different approach to that included in the EC proposal and in the EP Draft Report.
We do not support mandatory age-based screening of olderdrivers, these have not been shown to be effective in preventing severe collisions.
Our key request – To develop and promote evidence-based guidelines for family doctors and psychologists involved in assessing the functional capabilities of someone suspected of being an unfit driver. Support Member States in developing and evaluating educational programmes for their application. See ETSC Position and PIN Report on Medical Fitness for more background and explanation.
Amendments to support: 224, 225, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 473, 746,,479, 480, 482, 483, 487
Post-licence continuous training for non-professional drivers
Amendment to support: 23 and 474 on refresher courses at renewal.
Update of Annex III on Medical Fitness
Amendments to support –188, 767, 773, 776, 777, 778, 779
Alcohol Interlocks under the Code for Conditional Driving Licence Issuance
Driving while under the influence of alcohol poses a serious risk to road safety: 25% of all road deaths in the EU have been estimated to be alcohol related. Alcohol interlock programmes give offenders who would normally lose their driving licence a possibility to continue driving, as long as their alcohol level is below a set value. The EC included in it’s proposal the possibility to include alcohol dependentsas participants in alcohol interlock programmes.
This is a very
welcome inclusion in the original EC proposal targeting an important road
safety priority. Draft Report supports this inclusion and has not changed the
initial EC proposal.
We support different wording to add in rehabilitation with medical supervision.
Support Amendment 397, 782, 791, 792,
Please also see ETSCPIN Reports also of high relevance and giving an overview of the ‘state of the art’ in the EU.
Reducing Road Deaths Among Powered Two Wheeler Users
https://etsc.eu/reducing-road-deaths-among-powered-two-wheeler-users-pin-flash-44/
Reducing Road Deaths Among Young People (including driver training and testing)
https://etsc.eu/reducing-road-deaths-among-young-people-pin-flash-41/
Are Medical Fitness to Drive Procedures Fit for Purpose?
https://etsc.eu/are-medical-fitness-to-drive-procedures-fit-for-purpose-pin-flash-40/
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Kind regards,
Eleni Karydi
President of EFTHITA- Observatory Road Safety Rhodes
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