New 2013 EU motorcycle licences and international law

The 3rd European Union Driving Licence Directive (scheduled to come into force in 2013) will create new categories of motorcycle licences.  At a UN meeting attended by FIM in September United Nations traffic law experts highlighted problems with the new EU Directive. FIM Director of Public Affairs John Chatterton-Ross explains:  “For over 60 years the UN has led the development of international treaty obligations covering free movement of traffic across national borders, and mutual recognition of licences. All member states of the EU are signatories to the Vienna Conventions governing this.  The new EU law poses no problems for riders of motorcycles inside the 27 countries of the EU.  However there could be problems with the validity of the new “A2” licence category for riders travelling outside the EU. This is not a minor problem. The “A2” licence is for intermediate capacity motorcycles up to 35kW power output – motorcycles easily capable of use for long distance travel. The same applies with the new moped category “AM” although these machines are not commonly used for international travel - they are often hired by holidaymakers once they are in a tourist destination.” He adds: “FIM has worked with the UN authorities since the 1980s. This matter must be resolved before the new EU law is implemented. This is a complex legislation. Many countries have yet to prepare texts for implementation of the EU Directive into their national law. The deadline for doing so was January of this year! This is yet another difficulty. The UN working party will meet again in March 2012. The Secretariat has undertaken to raise the issue with the EU and all countries which are signatories to the Vienna Conventions. FIM will continue to work towards a solution. Clearly everyone wants to work towards a commonsense solution – but if a rider is involved in an accident we must avoid later legal problems over the validity of the licence they hold.”         For further information contact John Chatterton-Ross on: <link>John.chatterton-ross@fim.ch - Telephone:  + 44 7974 365 369