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2026-07-29 18:53 UTC → 2026-07-31 12:37 UTC ·
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In late July 2026 the European Union advanced a comprehensive The EU’s overhaul of its driving‑licence system. An system, first outlined by the October 2025 Parliament reform made reform, continues to roll out across member states. The directive, which makes a medical examination fitness test mandatory for licence renewal renewals and introduced creates an EU‑wide cross‑border revocation mechanism, allowing bans issued in one member state to be enforced elsewhere. The plan also outlined mandates a digital licence accessible that can be stored on smartphones, slated for full rollout by 2030, smartphones and, from late 2029, linked to the EU Digital Identity wallet while retaining still allowing optional paper cards on request, and raised the maximum authorised weight for motorhomes. Two days later the European Commission presented a strategy to implement these reforms, adding cards. Key road‑safety provisions include a compulsory accompanied‑driving period for 17‑year‑old novice drivers to ride accompanied, category B applicants until they turn 18, a minimum two‑year probationary period phase for new licence holders, and legal parity stricter penalties for digital licences. The drink‑driving, drug‑driving, seat‑belt violations and neglecting child‑safety systems. Member states must transpose the rules by 26 November 2028, with most measures are framed within becoming operational on 26 November 2029. In Romania, the Ministry of Health has drafted a decree to align national medical‑fitness assessments with the EU rules, introducing detailed visual‑acuity, field‑of‑view tests and risk‑based evaluations for drivers with chronic conditions. The reforms support the EU’s Vision Zero agenda, aiming to halve target of halving road deaths by 2030 and ultimately eliminate them eliminating fatalities by 2050.