Future drivers of A tractors must be at least 16 years old and holders of a B1 driving license. With that, they will be allowed to drive ordinary cars that weigh a maximum of 2,500 kilograms and can only reach a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour – which is still significantly more than the 30 kilometers per hour that currently applies.
Unlike today, however, a proper driving test is required to prove that you can drive, not just in theory.
However, what the test will look like remains to be decided.
Interest in Finland
The B1 card is included in the settlement that the EU countries’ transport ministers agreed on on Monday regarding their view of the proposal that the European Commission put forward already this spring.
— This has been an important issue for Sweden in order to secure what we think is important: namely the opportunity for young people to drive an A-tractor. Not least in rural areas, it is an important part of the flexibility, that you can drive even when it is not possible to take public transport, says the Minister of Infrastructure Andreas Carlson (KD) on site in Brussels.
The B1 card is actually mostly intended for those countries that want special driving licenses for heavy four-wheelers.
The intended rule change also opens the way to “exporting” the A-tractor system to Finland, which has been interested in introducing the Swedish model on its roads as well.
Digital cards
However, it will take quite a while before the new rules become a reality. Even if the Council of Ministers is now in agreement, the EU Parliament must also arrive at its view on the matter.
The plan is for it to take place in Parliament’s transport committee on Thursday, after which final compromise negotiations can begin. After that, the member states are expected to have several years to introduce what is required.
The updated driving license rules, which apply to all types of vehicles, also include an opening for digital driving licences, mandatory introduction of a probationary period and common rules for health certificate requirements.
— There, Sweden has thought that it is enough to have it in place when you get your driver’s license for the first time. Some other countries have actually proposed that there should be a mandatory medical examination every time you renew your driver’s license, but we have taken that off the table, says Andreas Carlson.