In Austria there is excitement about a planned EU regulation for older people at the wheel. The background is the EU Commission’s proposal from the beginning of March for more safety on the roads in the EU.
This should be done, for example, by regularly checking the fitness to drive of people over 70 years of age. The FPÖ and the Presidents of the Senior Citizens’ Council Peter Kostelka (SPÖ) and Ingrid Korosec (ÖVP) are now criticizing the Brussels authority’s plans as age-discriminatory.
Specifically, according to the EU Commission, people over 70 should either complete a self-assessment of their fitness to drive every five years or have a medical examination carried out. “The decision whether to do a self-assessment or check with a doctor is up to the member states,” says the EU authority.
Driving licenses that have been issued since 2013 are already limited to 15 years. All driver’s licenses issued before 2013 – in Austria the old pink paper licenses – will remain valid until 2033.
Ministry examines
The European Parliament and the EU states must find positions on the new project and negotiate a compromise before new rules can come into force. So changes are possible.
According to the responsible Ministry of Transport, it is examining the EU proposal. “Many details are still open in the proposal, and clear clarifications and improvements will therefore still be needed before negotiations between the member states at the political level and with the EU Parliament can begin,” it said when asked by the APA.
