Driving license changes under discussion in the EU

[PeterE1947]

This was in a German Magazine .
The EU driving license directive is currently being revised. The weight limit for the car driver's license could increase from 3.5 to 4.25 tons - also for campers. Motorhome owners can present their arguments to the EU online.

As part of the revision of the EU driving license directive that is currently being carried out, the 3.5 tonne limit for the Class B driving license could fall. Even those who only got their car driver's license after 1999 could then drive motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons. At least that is what the caravanning industry is hoping for. The Reisemobil Union (RU) and the Euro Motorhome Club (EMHC) have recently campaigned for this. However, according to current plans, the EU will only allow the increase to 4.25 tonnes if the additional weight is caused by alternative drives - such as heavy batteries in electric vehicles.

A participation round is currently underway in which all EU citizens can express their opinion online. It is still possible to register and leave a comment until May 21st. RU and EMHC advise: The more motorhome owners participate, the greater the chances that their positions will be taken into account. After all, why should electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons be moved with a B driving license, but motorhomes of the same weight not?

EMHC Vice President Michaela Kirchhoff: "We hope that the extension of car driving licenses to 4.25 tons, which we have been demanding for ten years, will finally and soon become a reality."

Reisemobil International will closely monitor the further development and report again.

 

[acropolis22]

This was in a German Magazine .
The EU driving license directive is currently being revised. The weight limit for the car driver's license could increase from 3.5 to 4.25 tons - also for campers. Motorhome owners can present their arguments to the EU online.

As part of the revision of the EU driving license directive that is currently being carried out, the 3.5 tonne limit for the Class B driving license could fall. Even those who only got their car driver's license after 1999 could then drive motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons. At least that is what the caravanning industry is hoping for. The Reisemobil Union (RU) and the Euro Motorhome Club (EMHC) have recently campaigned for this. However, according to current plans, the EU will only allow the increase to 4.25 tonnes if the additional weight is caused by alternative drives - such as heavy batteries in electric vehicles.

A participation round is currently underway in which all EU citizens can express their opinion online. It is still possible to register and leave a comment until May 21st. RU and EMHC advise: The more motorhome owners participate, the greater the chances that their positions will be taken into account. After all, why should electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons be moved with a B driving license, but motorhomes of the same weight not?

EMHC Vice President Michaela Kirchhoff: "We hope that the extension of car driving licenses to 4.25 tons, which we have been demanding for ten years, will finally and soon become a reality."

Reisemobil International will closely monitor the further development and report again.

If it does happen, it'll probably take a further 10 years for the UK's officials to change the law here.

 

[acropolis22]

Dunno what happened there................ My previous post hidden unless you expand it..........

 

[busby]

Interesting but doubt it will alter things in the UK..BUSBY.

 

[Googlebot]

Interesting but doubt it will alter things in the UK..BUSBY.

We did the change to align with the EU in 1997, it’s a sensible change so who knows?

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[pappajohn]

Why would it affect us, we aren't in the EU.

 

[Jim]

We are already doing it to compensate for the weight of Electric vans and commercial drivers. I think it's a given it will happen here too.

 

[Brains]

Why would it affect us, we aren't in the EU.

But most of the vehicles on the road come from the EU.
The manufactures are going to make vehicles that conform to the EU laws with 300m potential buyers, not the minor market of the UK.

The UK will need to keep in step with EU motoring law, otherwise you could end up with a situation where Fritz & Frog can drive all over the EU, but not in the UK and therefore also vice versa ......

 

[pappajohn]

But most of the vehicles on the road come from the EU.
The manufactures are going to make vehicles that conform to the EU laws with 300m potential buyers, not the minor market of the UK.

The UK will need to keep in step with EU motoring law, otherwise you could end up with a situation where Fritz & Frog can drive all over the EU, but not in the UK and therefore also vice versa ......

This thread is regarding driver licences not vehicles.
So.... Why would it affect us?

 

[vwalan]

just dont buy eu vehicles or even eu goods.
there are lots of other countries to buy from.
do we really care what fritz and frog can or cant do?

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[Brains]

just dont buy eu vehicles or even eu goods.
there are lots of other countries to buy from.
do we really care what fritz and frog can or cant do?

.... and therefore vice versa .....

 

[Coolcats]

just dont buy eu vehicles or even eu goods.
there are lots of other countries to buy from.
do we really care what fritz and frog can or cant do?

VAG make fantastic vehicles along with BMW. Many manufacturers are now owned by India such as Jaguar (Tata) or China Lotus (Geely).

 

[Taran_Las]

VAG make fantastic vehicles along with BMW. Many manufacturers are now owned by India such as Jaguar (Tata) or China Lotus (Geely).

Maybe so....but they're still deceitful lying buggers.

 

[gerry mcg]

This thread is regarding driver licences not vehicles.
So.... Why would it affect us?

The issue is that if EU licences are no longer constrained by a 3.5T limit, one may see EU manufacturers cut / stop making commercial vehicles which are below 3.5T, therefore if the UK falls out of step with a developing EU position it is possible the number of commercial vehicle chassis available which are below 3.5T begins to dry up.

 

[glenn2926]

The issue is that if EU licences are no longer constrained by a 3.5T limit, one may see EU manufacturers cut / stop making commercial vehicles which are below 3.5T, therefore if the UK falls out of step with a developing EU position it is possible the number of commercial vehicle chassis available which are below 3.5T begins to dry up.

That would be a good thing.. if all the commercial chassis that are under 3.5t now we’re not available then the motorhomes that run over weight wouldn’t be. The drivers that would fail a health check to drive C1 but continue to drive 3.5t wouldn’t be allowed to do this. New drivers would have to take further training and a test to drive large vehicles.
All of these changes would make driving safer for everyone.

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[nicholsong]

This was in a German Magazine .
The EU driving license directive is currently being revised. The weight limit for the car driver's license could increase from 3.5 to 4.25 tons - also for campers. Motorhome owners can present their arguments to the EU online.

As part of the revision of the EU driving license directive that is currently being carried out, the 3.5 tonne limit for the Class B driving license could fall. Even those who only got their car driver's license after 1999 could then drive motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons. At least that is what the caravanning industry is hoping for. The Reisemobil Union (RU) and the Euro Motorhome Club (EMHC) have recently campaigned for this. However, according to current plans, the EU will only allow the increase to 4.25 tonnes if the additional weight is caused by alternative drives - such as heavy batteries in electric vehicles.

A participation round is currently underway in which all EU citizens can express their opinion online. It is still possible to register and leave a comment until May 21st. RU and EMHC advise: The more motorhome owners participate, the greater the chances that their positions will be taken into account. After all, why should electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tons be moved with a B driving license, but motorhomes of the same weight not?

EMHC Vice President Michaela Kirchhoff: "We hope that the extension of car driving licenses to 4.25 tons, which we have been demanding for ten years, will finally and soon become a reality."

Reisemobil International will closely monitor the further development and report again.

Even if the EU change its Directive it could have extensive complications internationally.

Most of the 27 Nation States of the EU are signatories to the Vienna Convention on motor vehicles and licences, signed by approx 126 countries, which distinguishes between licences under and over 3.5t

What do the EU think they will do in relation to the EU States that have signed ?

1 Will the EU think that they can cajole all other signatories to agree to up the limit, and just for EVs?

2 If not will the EU require all EU Member States to renegue on their accession to the treaty?

3 If 2 above is adopted then licences issued in those countries will not be automatically acceptable in the other contracting states, e.g. Turkey and Morocco.

Maybe the EU Administrators think they are above what Member States signed up to before WWII.

Geoff

 

[dipsie]

Perhaps Lotus could build a camper van, I’d be up for that.
Just had first MOT got a warning on the tyres, nearly on the limit, 9315 miles only( Michelins ) I forget it’s not a Lotus sometimes

 

[pappajohn]

The issue is that if EU licences are no longer constrained by a 3.5T limit, one may see EU manufacturers cut / stop making commercial vehicles which are below 3.5T, therefore if the UK falls out of step with a developing EU position it is possible the number of commercial vehicle chassis available which are below 3.5T begins to dry up.

Personally, I really can't see manufacturers ignoring UK sales of 2.5 million units a year just because the UK upper limit is restricted to 3.5t
As it's easy for them to downplate from 4.25t to 3.5t at the factory so it will continue if the EU rules change but the UK remains as is.