Transcript Presentation 1: Driving Licenses and Fitness to Drive

Medril Workshop
Brussels, 25 November 2005
Driving licence and fitness to drive
Joël Valmain
DG TREN, E3
Directorate general for Energy and Transport
Information and communication
Medical examinations

In 2003 request of the DLC’s members to update annex
III: scientific basis, definitions, minimum standards; work
in 2004 & 2005 with three priority designated items:
eyesight, epilepsy and diabetes

Results of these working groups have been presented
end of April 2005

Final reports of the eyesight and epilepsy working
groups are now available on the Commission’s web site
(DG TREN/ driving licences)
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Medical examinations
(2006)

Discussions will start within the driving licence
Committee and legislation (Commission’s
Directive) will be prepared in 2006

Working groups might be set up by the end of
2006 (other items of Annex III need to be
updated): cardiovascular diseases, mental or
psychological disorders and « fatigue »
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Projects

Co-financing of projects or campaigns

Alcolock: 5 MS involved (BE, DE, NL, ES, N): the aim is to conduct
an in-depth qualitative field trial by studying the perceptions of 4
groups of drivers (bus drivers, truck drivers, recidivists and alcohol
dependant patients) and the related group: ending 30 June 2006

Idea: implement a training program for fitness to drive assessors

Rosita 2: roadside drug testing assessment (oral fluid): ending
December 2005

EuroBob: designated driver (against drink-driving)

NESA: European night without accidents

MEDRIL: ending 1 March 2006
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Projects

Results:

Agile: elderly drivers

Consensus: assessment method for PSN

Glare: large field study of a battery of eyesight tests

Immortal: studies in various domains, eyesight, driving
under influence, depressive people,…

Quavadis: quality and use aspects of vehicle adaptations
for disabled
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Research: influence of alcohol,
drugs and medicines

Objectives:



Analysis of the influence of consumption of psychoactive substances on
fitness to drive
Guarantee a coherent scientific approach which still relies on studies
dating back several decades (eg. Grand Rapids, 1964)
Instrument: Integrated Project “ DRUID” (EC contribution: nearly 19 M €),
starting in 2006, duration of 4 years

Epidemiologic reference studies & labelling/classification of medicines
should be analyzed in combination with enforcement (road side checks,
testing equipment, withdrawal of licences), rehabilitation measures of
persons regularly using and abusing such substances, with education of
specialists and information of the public in order to guarantee an
integrated approach to this complex problem
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Websites

Commission transport website
http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/index_en.html

Road transport section
http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/road/index_en.htm

CARE database
http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/home/care/index_en.
htm

Driving licences
http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/home/drivinglicence/
index_en.htm
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