Overview

• The European Parliament is due to vote Tuesday in Strasbourg on a package already agreed with member states that would establish an electronic driving licence as the EU standard by 2030, with plastic cards still available on request.
• The reform would require authorities to cooperate so licence withdrawals and temporary driving bans issued in one member state can be recognized across the EU, with countries given three years to transpose the rules into national law.
• Document validity would be harmonized at 15 years for cars and motorcycles and five years for lorries and buses, while regular medical checks for older drivers would remain at the discretion of each member state.
• Training provisions in the EU draft include making accompanied driving at 17 the norm for car licences and permitting accompanied training for lorry licences, with greater emphasis on driver‑assistance systems.
• In Germany, Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has proposed national changes to cut costs and digitize training—such as app‑based theory, a smaller question bank, more simulator use, fewer mandatory special drives, a shorter practical test, and a parent‑led practice pilot—which many driving instructors criticize as a risk to road safety.