Driven to consistency

The European Commission has proposed European Union-wide harmonisation of the physical composition and renewal dates of driving licences as part of the fight against counterfeiting identity documents. A tabled directive insists that national authorities issue only a standardised plastic licence; paper versions would no longer be issued, although existing licences would not have to be returned. Standard car and motorcycle licences would be renewed every 10 years. Member states would also be able to integrate a data microchip into cards, although the directive would only permit it to include driving licence-related data.