The European Commission has clarified that European Union member states will have the freedom to decide how they test the driving abilities of individuals over the age of 70.

The Commission's proposal, which suggested that older drivers should renew their licenses every five years, faced significant criticism in Belgium and other countries last week.

Belgium's Mobility Minister, Georges Gilkinet, strongly opposed the proposal, while the Belgian seniors' association OKRA condemned it as "pure age discrimination." The backlash in Belgium and other member states prompted the Commission to provide further clarification on its proposal.

Currently, all EU countries already have the option to limit the validity of driving licenses for individuals over 50, allowing for more frequent medical checks or the implementation of refresher courses. However, Belgium is not among the countries that utilize this option, according to Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz.

The new proposal aims to raise the age limit to 70 and make it mandatory for member states to limit the validity of licenses issued to individuals in this age group.

Jahnz explained, "The age limit would be raised because age alone is not a good indicator of a person's fitness to drive. It would be more efficient to have a mandatory fitness check when a license is issued or renewed." Only individuals applying for or renewing a license with medical conditions would need to undergo a medical examination.

While restricting the validity of driving licenses from the age of 70 is motivated by the decline in driving abilities in later life and the increasing proportion of over-65s among fatally injured car drivers and passengers, the Commission emphasized that the specific measures implemented by each member state, such as self-assessment questionnaires or mandatory medical check-ups, would be a national decision.

The objective is not to revoke driving licenses from older individuals but rather to ensure that member states have the means to identify drivers who are no longer physically and mentally fit to drive, Jahnz stated.

The proposal is currently being discussed by member states and the European Parliament. The Commission acknowledges the controversy surrounding the issue and does not rule out potential modifications to the measure.