MEPs adopted a driving license reform on Wednesday but ruled out the obligation of a medical examination to renew a license, a measure criticized, particularly in France.
The introduction of such medical examinations, intended to measure the physical and mental fitness of drivers, will remain at the discretion of each Member State.
Medical check-ups are already compulsory in 14 EU states such as Italy and Portugal but do not exist in Germany or France, where the proposal has provoked an outcry.
The LR and RN deputies opposed it.
“Europe is in its place when it improves people's lives, not when it complicates it by assuming prerogatives for the sake of harmonizing practices
,” said Brice Hortefeux and Francois-Xavier Bellamy (LR, members of the EPP group, right) in a press release.
Conversely, Karima Delli (Europe Ecology), rapporteur of the text, denounced
“fallacious arguments”
and
“disinformation”
on the subject.
However, she noted that
“a majority of
French elected officials” in the European Parliament were in favor of medical checks, calling on France to introduce them.
“There is a cruel lack of political courage”
also regretted Pauline Déroulède, who spoke alongside him at a press conference.
This wheelchair tennis champion, who lost her left leg in 2018 after being hit by a 90-year-old motorist, has since campaigned for these driving skills tests.
Reduce the number of deaths
The measure aimed to be part of the European road safety strategy, the objective of which is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads by 50% by 2030. More than 20,000 people die each year on EU roads and more than 160,000 are seriously injured.
The text adopted on Wednesday includes a two-year probationary period for novice drivers who will be subject to strict alcohol-driving limits (up to 0.2 g/l) and will face tougher penalties in case of dangerous driving.
The project also provides for the introduction of a digital driving license, available on mobile phones.
The EU's draft driving license rules were adopted by 339 votes in favor, 240 against.
It will still have to be negotiated with member states and MEPs will not decide on its final version for several months.