FTD in Europe –
4th Driving Licence Directive and
alcohol & drugs, elderly and professional drivers and restriction codes
IMPORTANT: This event will be organized as a hybrid event. If you are interested in attending remotely, kindly do the following: (1) register for the event AND (2) inform us by mail to info@cieca.eu. If you don't inform us by mail, we understand that you will be physically present.
Around ten years after the 3rd EU Driving License Directive came into force, the EU Commission published a draft for a new 4th EU Driving License Directive on 1 March 2023. Among other things, this proposal provides for a reduction in the minimum age for drivers of category C vehicles from 21 to 18 years. The reason given for this is to combat the shortage of drivers, without reflecting more closely on the possible effects on road safety. In Germany alone, one in four drivers aged 18-20 is involved in an accident within three years. These results therefore reflect a similar pattern of increased accident risk for young drivers as we know it from car drivers. It follows that lowering the minimum age for heavy goods vehicles may pose risks to road safety.
No drug is currently the subject of such intense, controversial and passionate debate as cannabis. Cannabis is very trendy and has become a "lifestyle drug", some even speak of it in the sense of a "green rush". This is one of the reasons why cannabis has been and is being legalized as a drug in many countries, although this form of decriminalization also has an impact on road safety. There is consensus in various studies on the following points:
- The expected drop in prices has not materialized; the legal sales outlets continue to compete with the black market. Consumers are very slow to switch to the legal market.
- The active ingredient content of cannabis has increased, as has the proportion of synthetic cannabinoids.
- The legalization of cannabis leads to an increase in marijuana use among existing users. This applies in particular to adult users, not to young people. Therefore, legalization also contributes to habit-forming patterns of use among people with previous cannabis experience.
- With regard to the question of cannabis-related treatment admissions, hospital stays and hospitalizations (problematic use, addiction), alarming figures are reported from Canada and the USA, which show a doubling of accident-related hospital admissions.
This picture from international studies suggests that the increase in the spread of consumption could also be accompanied by an increase in traffic risks.
The revision of the EU driving license directive provides for a limited and age-dependent period of validity for driving licenses. Age limits of 65, 70 or 75 years are being discussed. It is known that neurodegenerative degradation processes are onsetting from the age of 70 years (e.g. demyelination of the sheathing of nerve cells), which subsequently impairs information processing. However, calendar age differs significantly from biological age, so that these biological processes can only be seen in the relevant accident statistics from the age of 75. It is only from the age of 75 onwards that the accident rates are similar to those for the risk group of 18–25-year-old drivers for self-inflicted accidents. Furthermore, medical checks have proven to be less valid with regard to the occurrence of accidents. This raises several questions that will be discussed in the workshop: Until what age should a driving license remain valid? What measures should be ordered as a prerequisite for the renewal of driving licenses?
Last but not least, workshop participants will explore the challenge for driving licensing authorities to support senior drivers to maintain their independent community mobility with or without a car within constraints of declining physical and cognitive health, without compromising road safety...
The CIECA Fit to Drive Permanent Advisory Group is very pleased to hold its first workshop, and cordially invites all CIECA Members to attend this event.
If you have specific questions regarding one of the four topics that you would like to see discussed at the workshop, you can send these in advance to info@cieca.eu. The Fit to Drive Group will try to address these issues during the discussions.
The workshop will take place at TÜV SÜD AG in Munich, Germany, thanks to the kind offering of our German effective member, the TÜV-Verband e. V. You will find below all practical information regarding the workshop. Should you have any further questions, please contact info@cieca.eu.
- Agenda (Start and finish times: 10:00 - 16:00 CEST)
- Fee: This members' only event is free-of-charge
- Location: TÜV SÜD AG, Munich, Germany. See below "practical information".
- Accommodation: Download the practical information for participants for more information
- Deadline: The registration deadline is Friday, 19 April 2024.
- Working language: English
- IMPORTANT: This event will be organized as a hybrid event. If you are interested in attending remotely, kindly do the following: (1) register for the event AND (2) inform us by mail to info@cieca.eu. If you don't inform us by mail, we understand that you will be physically present.