European Commission chiefs have greenlit a new EU digital driving licence that will create a central registration system across the bloc to help crack down on rogue drivers.
Motorists who commit road traffic offences in other States and get away with it (by for example, avoiding arrest, prosecution or conviction by fleeing the jurisdiction where the offence was committed), will be unable to just leave a country to escape from their offences anymore.
Under the new centralised system, disqualifications will no longer apply just in the country they are issued in, but will apply right across the bloc. There have been tragic circumstances in the past where foreign nationals have fled the jurisdiction here after being involved in car crashes where there have been fatalities.
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EU chiefs have also approved plans to introduce new prosecutable motoring offences, including dangerous parking or having a car that’s too heavy. A spokesman for the Commission said: "Current EU rules on cross-border enforcement have helped to ensure that non-resident road offenders do not remain anonymous.
"Nonetheless, in 2019 some 40 per cent of cross-border offences were committed with impunity, either because the offender was not identified or because the payment was not enforced.
"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.
"Holding road traffic offenders accountable in all Member States is essential for road safety. However, under current rules, when a serious offence results in a driving disqualification, it cannot be enforced EU-wide if the driver committed the offence in a Member State other than the one that issued his/her driving licence.
"Today's proposal covers severe road traffic offences such as excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and causing death or serious bodily injury as a result of any traffic offence.
"The new centralised database for all EU driving licences will streamline potential prosecutions."
The spokesman added: "To simplify the recognition of driving licences between Member States, the Commission proposes the introduction of a digital driving licence, in a world first.
"It will be much easier to replace, renew or exchange a driving licence since all procedures will be online. In the same vein, 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."
There will be new offences, which will include:
not keeping sufficient distance from the vehicle in front;
dangerous overtaking;
dangerous parking;
crossing one or more solid white lines;
wrong-way driving;
not respecting rules on the use of emergency corridors;
the use of an overloaded vehicle.
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