EU Parliament Pushing for Europe-Wide Driving Bans
The move would only apply to driving bans to begin with, but could be expanded to share other motoring convictions further down the line
The European Parliament is looking into legislation requiring countries issuing driving licences to enforce and uphold driving bans from other nations.
Should the move be rubber-stamped in Brussels, it would mean that should you receive a driving ban for reckless or dangerous driving in one EU member state, whatever punishment is handed down would apply across the European continent.
As it stands the links between the police forces of Europe are generally only visible in the event of major crime happening across borders. When it comes to traffic offences, very little (if anything) tends to get done. With that in mind, speeding fines, for instance, from Spain may well find their way to you here in the UK, although in some cases chasing for payment won’t occur as the person is not a Spanish resident. It’s common for speeding offences in some EU countries to not incur points on the driver's licence, meaning that for some time speeding on the continent has been seen as something of a ‘get out of jail free’ card.
While we aren’t saying that this move will change that situation if it is brought in, it seems sensible to assume that at some point down the line, it could become prevalent. Indeed the framework for the new system includes a review clause, which will allow lawmakers to assess a possible expansion to cover other offences as well as driving bans. This then could lead to a situation whereby speeding convictions from a country in the EU could mean points will eventually find their way onto your licence.
Information about motoring bans will be transferred via the EU driving licence network, although not all will be included in the new legislation. In some circumstances, disqualifications less than three months in length or those with under a month remaining are to be excluded, according to the BMF.
There is also the question mark over this news which is if the UK government will adopt the system, if it comes in. As it stands there might not be a requirement to, although given it would effectively notify UK authorities of drivers who have previously been banned abroad, and grant the UK government the power to ban them in this country, it might not be a bad move to help improve road safety.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
