Directive 2006/126 - Driving licences (Recast) - Main contents
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Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences (Recast)| Legal instrument | Directive |
|---|---|
| Number legal act | Directive 2006/126 |
| Original proposal | COM(2003)621  |
| CELEX number i | 32006L0126 |
| Document | 20-12-2006 |
|---|---|
| Publication in Official Journal | 30-12-2006; Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 07 Volume 017,Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 07 Volume 017,OJ L 403, 30.12.2006,Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 07 Volume 008 |
| Effect | 19-01-2007; Entry into force Date pub. + 20 See Art 18 19-01-2009; Partial application See Art 18 |
| End of validity | 31-12-9999 |
| Transposition | 19-01-2011; At the latest |
30.12.2006 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 403/18 |
DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 20 December 2006
on driving licences (Recast)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 71 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
After consulting the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),
Whereas:
(1) |
Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences (3) has been significantly amended on several occasions. Now that new amendments are being made to the said Directive, it is desirable, in order to clarify matters, that the provisions in question should be recast. |
(2) |
The rules on driving licences are essential elements of the common transport policy, contribute to improving road safety, and facilitate the free movement of persons taking up residence in a Member State other than the one issuing the licence. Given the importance of individual means of transport, possession of a driving licence duly recognised by a host Member State promotes free movement and freedom of establishment of persons. Despite the progress achieved with harmonising the rules on driving licences, significant differences have persisted between Member States in the rules on periodicity of licences renewal and on subcategories of vehicles, which needed to be harmonised more fully, in order to contribute to the implementation of Community policies. |
(3) |
The possibility of laying down national provisions with regard to the period of validity provided for in Directive 91/439/EEC leads to the co-existence of different rules in different Member States and over 110 different models of driving licences valid in the Member States. This creates problems of transparency for citizens, police forces and the administrations responsible for the administration of driving licences and leads to the falsification of documents which sometimes date back several decades. |
(4) |
In order to prevent the single European driving licence model from becoming an additional model to the 110 already in circulation, Member States should take all necessary measures to issue this single model to all licence holders. |
(5) |
This Directive should not prejudice existing entitlements to drive granted or acquired before its date of application. |
(6) |
Driving licences are mutually recognised. Member States should be able to apply the period of validity prescribed by this Directive to a licence without a limited administrative validity issued by another Member State and whose holder has resided on their territory for more than two years. |
(7) |
The introduction of a period of administrative validity for new driving licences should make it possible to apply at the time of periodic renewal the most recent counter-falsification measures and the medical examinations or other measures provided for by the Member States. |
(8) |
On road safety grounds, the minimum requirements for the issue of a driving licence should be laid down. Standards for driving tests and licensing need to be harmonised. To this end the knowledge, skills and behaviour connected with driving motor vehicles should be defined, the driving test should be based on these concepts and the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving such vehicles should be redefined. |
(9) |
Proof of fulfilment of compliance with minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving by drivers of vehicles used for the transport of... |
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