Article 18 — Probationary period

1. The holder of a driving licence issued after the passing of a driving test required under Article 10(1), point (a), shall be considered a novice driver and shall be subject to a probationary period. The duration of the probationary period shall be determined by the Member State issuing the driving licence, and shall not be less than two years. If the novice driver already has a valid driving licence for another category of vehicle, the probationary period shall in principle include only what remains of the probationary period for the existing driving licence. However, for novice drivers having a category AM driving licence only, obtaining a licence of a new category shall in any case give rise to a new probationary period. Member States may, in respect of driving licences of categories other than AM issued by them, require an additional or supplementary probationary period, in particular to take account of the different risks and required skills associated with the new driving licence category. 2. Member States shall lay down rules or sanctions, or both, for driving under the influence of alcohol for novice drivers which are stricter than those for non-novice drivers, and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. Where Member States decide to lay down sanctions, those sanctions shall be effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory. In addition, Member States shall take measures with the purpose of reducing: (a) driving under the influence of drugs among novice drivers; (b) non-compliance with the laws, regulations and administrative provisions transposing Council Directive 91/671/EEC relating to the compulsory use of safety belts and child-restraint systems in vehicles. 3. Nothing in this Article shall prevent Member States from introducing into their national law zero-tolerance provisions forbidding the consumption of alcohol or drugs for all drivers before driving. Where Member States introduce such zero-tolerance provisions into their national law, they shall take all the measures necessary to align their national law with the measures taken under paragraph 2. 4. Member States may establish additional rules applicable on their territories to novice drivers to improve road safety. They shall inform the Commission thereof. 5. If a competent authority of the Member State of normal residence decides to prolong a driver’s probationary period on account of any unlawful conduct of that person, it shall ensure that the new probationary period is recorded on the driving licence. 6. Member States shall mark driving licences issued during a probationary period with the relevant Union code set out in Annex I, Part E.