Transportstyrelsen Proposes Ending Peth-Tests as Basis for Driving License Revocation
Transportstyrelsen proposes removing peth-tests as grounds for license revocation, aligning with EU directives and focusing on alcohol dependence only.
- • Transportstyrelsen plans to stop using peth-tests to revoke driving licenses.
- • License revocations based on milder alcohol diagnoses will be removed.
- • The change aligns Swedish regulations with EU directives focusing on alcohol dependence.
- • Peth-tests remain for monitoring sobriety in alcohol-dependent drivers.
Key details
Transportstyrelsen has proposed to stop using peth-tests as grounds for revoking driving licenses in Sweden. This proposal comes after criticism surfaced following cases where individuals lost their licenses due to elevated peth-test results, which measure alcohol consumption over several weeks. The agency's new regulation aims to align Swedish rules more closely with EU directives, which consider only alcohol dependence as a valid reason for license revocation.
Katarina Norén, head of the unit at Transportstyrelsen, highlighted that extensive research, international comparisons, and scientific studies found no evidence linking milder alcohol diagnoses to impaired driving ability. Under current regulations, licenses can be revoked for individuals diagnosed with harmful or harmful alcohol use, but the proposal suggests removing these categories as grounds for license withdrawal.
While peth-tests will no longer be used as a standalone basis for revocation, they will still be utilized by medical professionals to monitor sobriety for drivers diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Additionally, there will be a mandatory reporting obligation for doctors to report anyone they medically deem unfit to drive.
The proposal is scheduled to enter a consultation phase before potentially coming into effect on January 15, 2026. This move reflects a shift towards more evidence-based, EU-aligned policies in Sweden's transport regulations concerning alcohol and driving.