Driving disqualifications extended beyond Belgium?

Currently, in Belgium, a driving disqualification ordered by a police court is limited to Belgian territory. However, with the possible adoption of a new European directive, this limitation could disappear. The penalty could become applicable in all EU Member States, making a disqualification handed down in Belgium effective throughout the Union. This development underlines the importance of a solid legal defence in the event of road traffic offences. Obtaining the assistance of a lawyer specialising in road traffic offences is becoming even more important when defending yourself before a police court in Belgium.

The European Parliament recently adopted a “Directive on the withdrawal of driving rights in the European Union”, which proposes new rules to ensure that decisions to suspend, restrict or withdraw a non-resident’s driving licence are enforced in all EU countries. One of the main measures proposed is to extend the list of serious road traffic offences to include driving without a valid licence. This offence, which is considered a danger to road safety, will now be punished in the same way in all EU countries. In addition, information on driving bans will be shared between member countries, meaning that a driver banned from driving in one country will not be able to escape sanctions in other EU countries where he or she may be driving.

The directive also proposes other measures to improve road safety, such as reducing speed limits in residential areas and disqualifying drivers from driving if they exceed these limits or drink and drive. These measures are designed to deter dangerous behaviour on the roads and protect the lives of road users.

Although the directive has been adopted by the European Parliament, it is important to note that the Council has not yet taken a position on this law. Work on this directive will therefore be continued by the new Parliament, which will be elected in June 2024.