Driving licence - fitness medical tests

[Globetrotter]

If there is one downside to Fuerteventura it is the lack of reliable information even from the authorities.
The same goes for regular events, the lack of publically available information never ceases to amaze me.
I know there are strict laws about advertising (selling your car with an advert in the window for example), but .....
I often wonder what would happen if there was a Major incident over there, would it be passed on secretly to a few chosen citizens, to be filtered out slowly to the rest of the community, if so, God help us all.
We all laugh or moan about the PC brigade and the Health and Safety laws in the UK that seem to get more incredible each year, but it feels like the same thing in reverse when in Fuerte.

[fifi]

Island Connections article.

Driving license changes. Dont panic.

Rumours have abounded about the driving licence changes that came into force across Europe on January 19.

28.01.2013 - What is certainly true is that the changes will affect everyone resident in any European country and, in particular, people from countries such as the UK who are living on foreign shores. British licences have traditionally been issued without the need for periodic updates and usually run for the period up to the holder's 70th birthday. However, the new law states that member countries are now able to apply their local licence validity periods to all foreign nationals living in their country. That means that, regardless of whether you still have your UK licence or not, if you are resident here for two years, you will now have to have regular medical examinations and tests if you wish to keep driving, in line with local law. Depending on which category of vehicle you are driving these will be every five or 10 years. But don't panic: despite alarming revelations in some media the new directive does not mean the Guardia Civil will immediately be handing out fines to all UK nationals resident in the Islands. A spokesperson from the European Commission told us, "Based on the information available to the commission the Spanish authorities would request the exchange of EU national driving licences after two years of normal residence counting from January 19, 2013 onwards. This practice would be in line with the Driving Licence Directive (2006/126/EC)." This confirms our information from Tráfico (the Spanish version of the DVLA), i.e. that residents will have two years from the introduction of the new directive to exchange their licences for the new European model. That means that by January 19, 2015, you must have declared your residency to Tráfico and been accepted into the Spanish system. Then and, hopefully, only then, will the fines be introduced for those who have not done so. To UK licence holders this may seem an inconvenience, but the majority of countries already adhere to this rule. And it makes sense: the medical includes general health information as well as tests for response times, hand-eye coordination, eyesight and hearing, and who can argue that it is not vital for drivers to be fully fit to drive if they are to be in charge of a vehicle, for their own safety as well as the safety of others? One of the other main aims of the new European directive is the homogenisation of licence regulations and appearance, thus facilitating Europe-wide acceptability of individual country's licences, as well as the tightening up of local laws on minimum standards. The new legislation will introduce a single driving licence model across Europe, as well as slight changes to the various vehicle categories and the necessary requirements for each one. For instance, a new category for mopeds has been created and the minimum age for driving larger bikes and certain public transport vehicles has been changed. All licences issued on or after 19 January 2013 will have to meet the terms of this new directive. That includes licences that are exchanged, renewed or handed in when notifying a change of address or circumstances. When your licence is exchanged you will not lose any category you were entitled to before. However, it is worth noting that due to the vehicle category alterations your entitlement may be shown differently on your new licence. Whilst you may have two years to comply with the new laws, it may be worth taking the necessary steps as soon as possible. Apart from anything, if you are resident here and still hold a UK licence you are already breaking the DVLA's regulations. These state clearly that you must be resident in the UK to be eligible for a British licence. You will also have signed the section declaring that this is so. Additionally, by doing it sooner rather than later, you may avoid the normal confusion that accompanies any introduction of new traffic laws.