WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1083/98 by Astrid THORS to the Commission. Age restrictions on driving cars or vans with trailers
29. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 118/1 I (Information) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER (1999/C 118/001) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1083/98 by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission (7 April 1998) Subject: Age restrictions on driving cars or vans with trailers Under Finnish law people who have reached the age of 70 may not drive cars or vans with trailers if the trailer is carrying a load. According to my information, such restrictions do not apply in any other Member State. Is this information correct and does the Commission consider that such legislation is justified? Does the Commission consider that such national legislation is consistent with internal market principles concerning freedom of movement? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1998) Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences (1) aims to facilitate the free movement of people and to enhance road safety. Article 6 harmonises the minimum, but not the maximum, age conditions for the issue of driving licences. Furthermore, Article 7. 2 of the Directive stipulates that: Without prejudice to provisions to be adopted by the Council in this regard, each Member State shall retain the right to determine, on the basis of national criteria, the period of validity of the driving licences which it issues. According to the Finnish legislation, a driving licence for categories D and D1 (buses) and for categories C+E, C1+E, D+E and D1+E (heavy vehicle combinations) cannot be issued or renewed to those who have reached the age of 70 years. However, the issue or renewal of driving licences for categories A and A1 (motorcycles), B (cars), B+E (cars with trailer) and C (lorries) is possible without such age restrictions. This means that Finnish legislation does allow people over 70 to drive a car or a van with a trailer, which fall within category B+E, whether the vehicle is loaded or not. The Commission believes that internal market principles of freedom of movement are not infringed by this legislation. (1) OJ L 237, 24. 8. 1991