News item | 28-03-2025 | 17:00
Getting and keeping a driver’s license becomes easier for people with autism. For people with ADD and ADHD, it is investigated whether an alternative is possible for the current driving license inspections. Also, after a psychosis, people no longer have to wait 6 months before they can be inspected.
Minister Barry Madlener (Infrastructure and Water Management) reported these plans to the Lower House today.
Minister Madlener: “People with autism, ADD or ADHD have more often indicated that they do not find the medical inspections proportional. I think these inspections should not be unnecessary obstacles to the driver’s license, because driving is a form of freedom that you do not just take to people. At the same time, I naturally also attach value to the traffic.”
Road safety is paramount during medical inspections for the driving license. The ministry does not want to make stricter requirements for driving license holders than is strictly necessary.
For people with autism, there is insufficient scientific evidence that they cause more accidents or make more traffic violations than other driving license holders. That is why the medical examination for these people is completely abolished. The aim is to make this start on January 1, 2026, the CBR is now investigating how this can best be abolished.
For people with ADD and ADHD, they are more often involved in traffic accidents and traffic violations than average. At the same time, the ministry sees that almost everyone is currently coming through the existing inspection. This makes the existing inspection a time -consuming process, while the effect on road safety is not clear. The Ministry has therefore asked the CBR to investigate how the inspections for people with ADD and ADHD can be adjusted. More information will be made available about this in the autumn of 2025.
Finally, the Ministry follows the advice of the Health Council for people who have had a psychosis, no longer obliged to wait 6 months for a medical examination. It must be possible for them to do that inspection earlier. The CBR and the Ministry discuss how this plan is implemented, an update on this will follow at the end of 2025.