European Union is preparing one of the biggest reforms traffic regulations in recent decades. The new package of rules brings digital driving licences, uniform rules for test drivers, stricter measures for traffic violators and a lower age limit for professional truck and bus drivers.
Although Serbia is not a member of the EU, part of those changes will also apply to drivers from Serbia, RTS reports Damir Okanović from the Traffic Safety Committee.
The European Parliament adopted a package of reforms that will be gradually implemented in all EU member states, with a transition period of two to three years.
"A conscientious driver will never be worried. The European Union has adopted a set of measures, but nothing will start to be implemented now and immediately," says Okanović.
Uniform rules for trial licenses
One of the more important novelties relates to test driving licenses, which will be harmonized at the level of the entire European Union in the future.
Okanović reminds that until now, Serbian drivers often had problems abroad, because many EU countries did not know the institute of probationary license.
"Now that the European Union has adopted the test driver's license, it will be much easier to create compatibility and no longer have doubts about whether these licenses are valid and how they are valid," he explains.
Under the new rules, a separate probationary license card will no longer exist. Young drivers will receive a standard driver's license with a special label that will show the police that they are a beginner.
"This should avoid the current situation with the problem of going to neighboring countries, i.e. abroad, where simply when the policeman takes your test driver's license, he may not be clear about what it is and then you can be in a problematic status", says Okanović.
Ban on driving in the entire European Union
The new rules also provide for mutual recognition of driving bans among EU member states.
"A driving ban imposed on the territory of one member state will be valid on the territory of the entire European Union," says Okanović.
He adds that this will not apply to drivers with Serbian licenses for the time being, but warns that serious traffic violations abroad may already have consequences.
"As far as our drivers are concerned, if they are banned from driving in Croatia, it is not something that should be seen in other member states. However, there are a number of inconveniences that can happen to them if they commit a serious traffic violation. For example, in Croatia, you enter the system and the next time you want to enter the territory of the European Union, you are blocked," he warns.
Digital driver's licenses
The reform includes the introduction of digital driver's licenses that will be available on mobile phones.
"Using the QR code, the police officer will read the driver's license and thus determine the driver's identity," explains Okanović.
According to him, this change will be applied in Serbia as well.
"We are a country that is officially in the status of joining the European Union and we have an obligation to comply with the regulations of the European Union wherever possible at one point. This also applies to traffic safety, so be sure that all of this will also be applied here and it will be something that will benefit drivers," says Okanović.
Junior truck and bus drivers
The European Union also lowers the age limit for professional drivers - from 21 to 18 for trucks and from 24 to 21 for buses.
"It is a forced move due to the lack of manpower", Okanović believes.
He estimates that the lack of experience among young drivers can be alleviated with quality training.
"The main objection to young drivers is the lack of experience. This can be compensated quite well by passing on those experiences to them," concludes Okanović.
Source: RTS
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