It should be ensured that drivers who acquire a driving licence for the first time do not endanger road safety. For those novice drivers, a probationary period of a minimum of two years should be established, during which stricter rules or sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol should apply, without prejudice to Member States’ competences to regulate drivers’ behaviour. Such stricter rules could include, or consist of, specific training for novice drivers, in which they receive further instruction on risk awareness and reflect on their behaviour. Special measures to ensure the reduction of driving under the influence of drugs among novice drivers, and to encourage their proper use of required safety systems should also be established. Such measures could include stricter rules or sanctions. Where sanctions are used, they should be effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory, and could include driving disqualifications, as well as specific training for novice drivers on risk awareness. Such special measures could also consist of specifically targeted enforcement and campaign efforts. Member States should be allowed to apply freely additional rules in their territory to novice drivers to improve road safety, such as a second probationary period for an additional driving licence category to take account of the different risks and required skills associated with the new category.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
