[Article] New EU-wide driving licences approved

NavanJunction1

New EU-wide driving licences approved
ireland.com, Last updated: 27-03-06, 11:10

EU governments today approved the introduction of a European driving licence to replace the 110 different types in use in the 25 member states.

The new plastic credit card-sized licences will come into force in 2012, subject to final agreement by MEPs later this year. The old-style national licences will be phased out by 2032.

The European Commission, which first proposed a single licence in 2003, welcomed the agreement as part of a fight against fraud, and particularly against "driving licence tourism", where drivers get new licences from other EU countries if their own has been taken away in their own country.

"The European driving licence is of vital importance for road safety and for the fight against fraud," said EU transport commission Jacques Barrot. "It will make travel around Europe easier, without bureaucratic difficulties."

The new licence will have a photograph and the potential to carry microchip information - a move that some MEPs claim means it could become an "identity card through the backdoor".

It will be up to individual countries to decide whether to use a microchip on the new licence - but the commission emphasised today that if the option is chosen governments must respect EU data protection rules.

The new licences will be valid for 10 years before they must be renewed - for up to 15 years if national authorities decide.

D'Peoples Voice

Please tell me, we can apply to somewhere in Brussels for them,
and not have to revert to the Department of Transport in this country
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054864978
If we do, we'll never see our driving licences before 2020 unless the next round of benchmarking actually does achieve some level of increased productivity in the public sector! But we all know how unlikely that is!

murphaph

Whoever said the wheels of EU beaurocracy turn slowly-they're allowing themselves only 26 years to phase this in! :eek:

It'll mean more than just handing out plastic licences of course. Currently only categories A, B, C and D (and sub categories thereof) are harmonised across the EU with plenty of non-harmonised national categories still in play (like M and W on our licences, other contries have more) and these will all need harmonisation to allow a single licence valid across the entire EU.

The most ineresting thing (from my point of view) is the return of age staged motorcycle licencing. Only people over 24 will be allowed drive the biggest bikes according to the RTE news I just watched. I expect driver training and testing to come under close scrutiny across the EU to ensure everyone's on a fair and level playing field.

Pfungstadter

I can see ireland being fined in the future cos our rubbish civil service still have two million boxes of the old cráppy pink paper ones still, and want to use them cos it's familiar and what will the person do who's job it is to stick the photo and signature on it!!!:rolleyes:

Lennoxschips

It'll mean more than just handing out plastic licences of course. Currently only categories A, B, C and D (and sub categories thereof) are harmonised across the EU with plenty of non-harmonised national categories still in play (like M and W on our licences, other contries have more) and these will all need harmonisation to allow a single licence valid across the entire EU.

i think the harmonisation was covered in this deal too

seamus

murphaph wrote:

Whoever said the wheels of EU beaurocracy turn slowly-they're allowing themselves only 26 years to phase this in! :eek:

Ah remember though that many member states issue driving licences for life. Assuming that "Come into force in 2012" means "All new licences will be of this format from 2012", then the very last Irish licences will be history in 2022

Will this also mean though harmonisation of provisional licences? Unlikely, given that no provisional is valid outside of the issuing country.

dbnavan

Would an EU Licence make it any easier to convert from a US licence? US driving record no matter how long u had it means nothing here.

NavanJunction1

Find out if any other country recognises them in the EU. Change to theirs, then change to ours (while it lasts). Easy! :rolleyes:

Capt'n Midnight

murphaph wrote:

Whoever said the wheels of EU beaurocracy turn slowly-they're allowing themselves only 26 years to phase this in! :eek:

Funny that, back in '79 ago our government gave out driving licenses without tests "an Amnesty" because the driving test queue was so long. So only 26 years is actually LESS time than the government have had to sort out that problem after wiping the slate clean. Considerably LESS when you take into account how long it will take to get through the backlog assuming they actually do anything about it.

Seeing as how FF have been in Government for all but 18 months of the last 20 years and have thrown vast amounts of money at NRA and PPP schemes..

It'll be nice that people can't get a foreign license to avoid points and endorsements. And maybe, just maybe in 26 years time, Irish drivers will actually have to take a test or at least be accompanied by someone who has passed a test and has driving experiance before they venture out on our motorways.

dbnavan wrote:

Would an EU Licence make it any easier to convert from a US licence? US driving record no matter how long u had it means nothing here.

In the US most people drive automatics also you can get a driving license in some parts on a simulator, no car required !

dbnavan

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

In the US most people drive automatics also you can get a driving license in some parts on a simulator, no car required !

Funny you should say that. that was the response my wife got when she moved over, yet in her 10 previous years of driving in america she never owned an automatic nor did her mother who has many more years expierence.

dam099

NavanJunction1 wrote:

Find out if any other country recognises them in the EU. Change to theirs, then change to ours (while it lasts). Easy! :rolleyes:

Not really. By way of example the UK (which does not recognise US ones anyway) requires that you are resident there to exchange a foreign licence for a UK one. Presumably most other sensible countries will have a similar requirement.

NavanJunction1

dam099 wrote:

Not really.

That is why I included this: :rolleyes:

Capt'n Midnight

dbnavan wrote:

Would an EU Licence make it any easier to convert from a US licence? US driving record no matter how long u had it means nothing here.

I seeem to remember something about a Swiss license. Not sure if it was easier to change or impossible.

parsi

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

I seeem to remember something about a Swiss license. Not sure if it was easier to change or impossible.

Not without a referendum...

D'Peoples Voice

Lads,
I'm looking to renw my 10-year full Irish driving licence.

This option does seem available at
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/utilities/search.php?query=driving+licence&start=1&submit=Go
But there is not much detail on what steps to take.

I've looked at the Department of Transport's website, seems it's more preoccupied with Press releases than driving licences!

Does anyone know what's the form to fill in, and the documentation needed, for example is another eye test required?

daymobrew

D'Peoples Voice wrote:

This option does seem available at
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/utilities/search.php?query=driving+licence&start=1&submit=Go
But there is not much detail on what steps to take.

I've looked at the Department of Transport's website, seems it's more preoccupied with Press releases than driving licences!

Does anyone know what's the form to fill in, and the documentation needed, for example is another eye test required?

The page you mentioned has a link to a PDF file of the form (D401) to complete. It is an Application for Issue or Renewal of Driving License. You can pick one up from a library or Garda station (Oasis will send one to you too).
The page and the form list the steps.

D'Peoples Voice

daymobrew wrote:

The page you mentioned has a link to a PDF file of the form (D401) to complete. It is an Application for Issue or Renewal of Driving License. You can pick one up from a library or Garda station (Oasis will send one to you too).
The page and the form list the steps.

good man. thanks for that.

Yoda

It would be nice if a valid US licence could be converted.

Victor

seamus wrote:

Will this also mean though harmonisation of provisional licences? Unlikely, given that no provisional is valid outside of the issuing country.

Provisional licences were replaced in the Road Traffic Act 2006 (No.1) with learner permits. I imagine most countries have learner permits, not provisional licences.

Wishbone Ash

I wonder what other countries will make of our policy of giving licences, without a test, in category D+E. If one applies for a test in this category, and also has a full licence in C+E, they grant the D+E without a test as they have no facilities for testing. I got mine that way. (Obviously one requires a full D first also). Anyone know if this happens in other EU countries?

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

back in '79 ago our government gave out driving licenses without tests "an Amnesty" because the driving test queue was so long. So only 26 years is actually LESS time than the government have had to sort out that problem after wiping the slate clean.

They didn't 'wipe the slate clean' as such. They gave a full licence to all applicants for a driving test in category C ( now but only if they were on a second provisional licence in that category. No concession was made to applicants in other categories AFAIK.

Capt'n Midnight

Most of the 400,000 on provisionals are on their second or higher.

D'Peoples Voice

daymobrew wrote:

page has a link to a PDF file of the form (D401) to complete. It is an Application for Issue or Renewal of Driving License. You can pick one up from a library or Garda station (Oasis will send one to you too).
The page and the form list the steps.

Lads,
When I apply to renew my motor taxation disk to the Motor Taxation Office in Dublin City, I can pay my EUR 292 by credit card,
yet when I apply to renew my driving licence to the same Motor Taxation Office in Dublin City, I MUST pay by cheque/postal order, there is no where to input my credit card details. This is extremely inconvenient for me as I don't use cheques and rarely call into banks/post offices as my banking is all done online.

Why do the civil/public servants in the Motor Taxation Office in Dublin City allow credit card payment for one but not the other. Obviously because I have never worked in the civil/public service it makes no sense to me, but surely some civil/public servant can explain!

AlekSmart

I seem to recall the Minister for Transport declaring upon collecting his seal of office from the Àras that the issue of a Credit Card type of Driving Licence would be his Top Priority........

Mind you the Minister was Seamus Brennan...... :rolleyes: