Recital (32)

After a driving licence has been issued, Member States, instead of requiring a medical examination or self-assessment at renewal, should be able to establish a system to ensure that changes in the driving licence holder’s physical or mental fitness are reacted to. Acknowledging the diversity in the organisation of the national health systems and practices with regard to their effective coordination with licensing authorities for issuing and renewal, such a system could take various forms, the main principle being that medical or licensing authorities should connect the medical conditions of driving licence holders with their ability and permission to drive. That reaction by medical or licensing authorities could also be based on the assessment of a driving licence holder’s declarations on the basis of a general obligation placed on all driving licence holders to declare their health status which is relevant for driving, leading to a referral to a specialist, a driving ban expressed by a medical practitioner, or, ultimately, to a withdrawal, suspension or restriction of the driving licence.