New European Union standardized driving licence comes into effect today

Starting today, January 19th 2013, all new driving licences issued across the EU will be in the form of a plastic "credit card," with a standard European format and tougher security protection.

New unified EU drivers license

The new European licence will progressively replace the more than 100 different paper and plastic models currently in use by more than 300 million drivers across the EU.

It is part of a broader package of measures (3rd EU Driving Licence Directive) coming into force designed to enhance free movement, tackle driving licence fraud and improve road safety across the EU.

"Traffic police across Europe are currently expected to recognise more than 100 different types of paper and plastic driving licence. ID photos may be long out of date, the categories for which the driver is licensed unclear and the document may be easy to forge.

"Fake driving licences are a licence to kill, that is why we need licences which are easy to read, easy to understand and very difficult to falsify", the European Commission said.

Read more: New European driving licence comes into effect - The Portugal News