EU wants mandatory medical examination when renewing driving license

The European Union has some changes on the table for driving licenses. One of these is a mandatory medical examination before each issuance or renewal of the driver’s license. The extension will only come after fifteen years; Currently the term in the Netherlands is ten years. A health declaration could also become sufficient. Here in the Netherlands, this is currently sufficient when you issue your first driving license and if you want to renew your driving license after the age of 75. The plan proposed in the European Parliament (and narrowly adopted by the Transport Committee) is therefore stricter.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management says A.Dthat it remains to be seen whether it will all actually come to that. “The European Parliament will vote on it in January 2024, but the European Commission and the countries themselves can also make their own decisions. Ultimately, the countries will vote on what will be included in that directive, which is not expected until the end of 2025.” Moreover, the Netherlands is not immediately in favor: “The Netherlands is still critical of a mandatory medical examination for every driver’s license renewal. The current Dutch system functions well and is a risk-driven system. We believe that the committee’s proposal will lead to an increase in administrative burdens with little or no effect on road safety.”