New driving licence proposal ignores motorcyclists’ demands

FEMA is very disappointed with the proposal for a new driving licence directive, which completly ignores riders. FEMA will fight to get a better directive, which will include our needs and demands.

The European Commission has published its Road Safety Package. Part of it is a proposal for a new Driving License Directive. The new elements are mainly the introduction of a digital driving licence and harmonization of renewing licences.

In general, FEMA asks for a change of direction from the present focus on technical skills at low speeds to higher skills that leads to better risk awareness and preparation to handle unexpected situations. This can be done without raising the threshold to obtain a full A-licence by making different choices and to make it easier to go through the stages from A1 to A.

We also draw attention to the present structure of the Directive regarding training- and test motorcycles which makes that that women and smaller men are still unnecessarily excluded. A change on the demands on trainings- and test motorcycles could change that. Finally, we ask for a further harmonization with respect of trailers and the possibility to ride a light motorcycle with a B-licence in all member states.

FEMA has sent its views on driving licences to the European Commission before, click here to read the full document.

A disappointed FEMA General Secretary Dolf Willigers said: “With respect to the driving licences for motorcyclists there are no changes. It shows that the European Commission has done nothing with our comments and recommendations during the years that we have discussed this. This is a very disappointing conclusion. However, this is just a proposal. It will go through a long legislation process in which the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are also involved. This means that this is not the end of the road for us. FEMA will fight to get a better directive, which will include our needs and demands.” (photo by Wim Taal).

Written by Wim Taal

Top photograph courtesy of KNMV