Responding to the shortage of truck drivers by allowing 18-year-olds to drive a heavy vehicle or a bus? It's not a Sounds good. This is supported by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), the non-profit organization whose mission is to identify and promote measures to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the transport sector in Europe. The proposal to grant eighteen-year-olds, the ability to drive heavy goods vehicles is included in a draft EU driving licence regulation which was adopted at first reading last week by the European Parliament by 339 votes in favour, 240 against and 37 Abstentions. The project aims to allow eighteen-year-olds to Drive a truck or bus with up to 16 passengers, a provided that they are in possession of a certificate of fitness and to allow seventeen-year-olds to drive these vehicles when accompanied by an experienced driver.

Pointing out that so far the recommended minimum age for Driving these vehicles is 21 years old, although several nations allow 18-year-olds to drive heavy goods vehicles at certain conditions, the ETSC pointed out that research carried out by the GDV, the German Association of Insurance Companies, has shown that HGV drivers aged between 18 and 20 years caused a much higher percentage collisions with personal injury compared to drivers aged superior. The ETSC also noted that the European Parliament has also supported the proposal to allow 16-year-olds to drive cars, including large SUVs, provided that the vehicles are equipped with speed limiter, while the same rating impact report of the European Commission on the proposal for a Regulation states that such a measure 'could lead to a additional risk to road safety, in particular for vulnerable road users'.

"To have thousands more teenagers driving trucks and cars - denounced the Director General of the ETSC, Antonio Avenoso - is an affront to everything that We know about the risks to road safety. If we need more truck drivers, Avenoso noted, the answer is significantly improve working conditions in the sector, not only recruit school-age children for this job. If Europe believes in sustainable mobility. Director General of the ETSC - then allow parents more risks of buying cars specially adapted for your children is unjust, harmful, and dangerous. We should encourage young people to travel on foot, by bicycle and using the public transport, without putting the lives of their peers at risk in SUVs."