Romania proposes updated medical rules for driver's licenses

Romania's Ministry of Health has put forward a draft order to update medical regulations for obtaining and renewing driver's licenses. The proposed changes, which transpose a European directive, aim to enhance road safety by introducing revised criteria for vision, mental health conditions, and the use of alcohol, drugs, and medications. Key modifications focus on visual capabilities, including acuity, field of vision, contrast sensitivity, double vision, low-light vision, and adaptation to monocular vision loss. The new rules will establish distinct criteria for amateur drivers (Group 1) and professional drivers (Group 2). The draft also specifies that driver's licenses will not be granted or renewed for individuals with severe mental disorders or persistent conditions affecting judgment and behavior, unless they provide a specialist medical opinion and agree to periodic monitoring. For individuals with a history of alcohol dependency, obtaining or renewing a license will require demonstrated abstinence through medically supervised rehabilitation programs, along with medical approval and regular check-ups. The regulations will maintain the prohibition for individuals dependent on psychotropic substances or undergoing treatments incompatible with safe driving, while introducing individualized risk assessments and tailored restrictions. The draft order is currently open for public consultation and will take effect after being signed by the Minister of Health and published in the Official Gazette.