The European Union have agreed to introduce a digital driving license in an effort to crack down on rogue drivers who may flee a country to escape prosecution from road traffic offences.
The new EU digital driving licence will be part of a central registration system, meaning drivers won't be able to get away with road traffic offences by fleeing to another state.
It also means if you are disqualified in one country, you will be disqualified across all countries in the EU.
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The new rules will improve safety for all road users, and will help the EU achieve its Vision Zero – having no deaths on EU roads by 2050.
To simplify the recognition of driving licences between EU Member States, the EU Commission has proposed the introduction of a digital driving licence.
It will be much easier to replace, renew or exchange a driving licence since all procedures will be online. It will also be easier for citizens from non-EU countries with comparable road safety standards, to exchange their driving licence for an EU one.
In a statement on their website, the Commission wrote: "The updated laws will ensure that the rights of people accused of traffic offences are upheld. Non-residents retain the right to an effective remedy and a fair trial, to the presumption of innocence, and to defence.
"These rights will be better guaranteed by provisions ensuring unified content and delivery of penalty notices, by ensuring recipients of such notices are able to verify their authenticity, and by making the sharing of information with presumed offenders a standard requirement."
They added: "To prevent impunity among road traffic offenders, a new system will be put in place, allowing for an EU-wide driving disqualification when a Member State decides to disqualify a driver because of an offence committed on its territory."
The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.
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