More accessible EU driving licence for young drivers

At 28 February, the European Parliament adopted its report on Driving licences Directive adopted, which agreed important reforms to remove key obstacles to access to the driver's profession.

On 28 February, the European Parliament adopted its report on the driving licence directive, which agreed on important reforms to remove key obstacles to access to the driver's profession.

The European Parliament's plenary also set the pace for the trialogue negotiations with the Council and the Commission and adopted its position on the driving licence directive. This development marks significant progress in the removal of age restrictions for young drivers and facilitates integration for drivers from third countries in the EU.

IRU EU Director Raluca Marian said: The EU road transport sector has both local drivers as professionals from third countries are needed to overcome the chronic shortage of drivers. We're already missing out.

500 000 professional drivers'. Our focus is primarily on attracting more local talent, including young people and women.

In view of the extent of the driver shortage, combined with the fact that many drivers are entitled to the pension Age approaching, we need to complement the local talent pool with drivers from third countries. The plenary supported an EU-led driving programme, which would make 17-year-old truck drivers (categories C and C1) can gain practical experience under the supervision of experienced drivers. This initiative is seen as a crucial reform for the truck sector, because it helps young drivers become familiar with the profession while driving under supervision.

Raluca Marian emphasized the importance of the term 'accompanied' in this context, while stressing the value of practical experience alongside an experienced driver stressed as an effective form of on-the-job training. For Dutch transport operators, the adopted driving licence directive in the European Parliament means important reforms remove key obstacles to access to the driver's profession. This development suggests that a significant progress in removing age restrictions for young drivers and facilitates the integration of drivers from third countries in the EU. This may cause a increase in the number of drivers in the Netherlands, But also in the rest of Europe.