Irish drivers will begin using a common EU driving licence from 2012.
The new plastic credit card-style licence will gradually replace the current Irish driving licence and contain a microchip storing the personal details of drivers. It may also store information on the number of penalty points accrued by individual drivers to help boost road safety, Minister of State for Transport Pat ("the Cope") Gallagher said yesterday after EU transport ministers agreed on the new licence and the legislation required to harmonise driving regulations.
For example, under the proposed legislation member states will have to introduce tests for drivers of mopeds, additional tests for motorcyclists that want to progress to use more powerful motorbikes and adopt common rules for driving testers in the EU.
"We expect the new licence to come into force by 2012," said Mr Gallagher. "It will have a number of benefits, particularly in cutting down on 'driving licence tourism'." Because there is no common driving licence in the EU currently, it is possible that disqualified drivers in one state can obtain a licence from another state.
Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the new EU driving licence was of vital importance for road safety and in the fight against fraud.
THE LICENCE
- It will replace more than 110 different licences used across Europe.
- Member states have 26 years to replace their existing licences. The new licence will be a plastic credit card-sized document that contains a microchip holding the driver's personal data and possibly a record of penalty points.
- The new licences will be valid for 10-15 years
- EU states have also agreed to share information on a new EU-wide network, raising the prospect of an EU driver data base in the future.
- The licences will enable people to drive in all EU member states.
- New detailed rules for driving testers will be introduced.
- Drivers of mopeds will have to pass a theory test. Member states may introduce a practical test.
- Drivers of motorcycles will face tests when they want to progress to bigger motorbikes.