More than 350 drivers without a driver's license in the Balearic Islands: Why the problem on Mallorca shouldn't exist

More than 350 stops this year: A problem that hits the road

When the lights of the Via de Cintura pass me by in the evening or the country road to Alcúdia thunders on a Sunday, you see them: drivers without papers, often unremarkable, sometimes reckless. This year the Guardia Civil in the Balearic Islands has stopped more than 350 people who could not produce a valid driving licence. Some never passed a test, others continued to drive despite losing points or having their licence revoked by a court; this ties into why Only One in Three Passes: Why the Driving Test in the Balearic Islands Rarely Succeeds on the First Try.

What lies behind the checks

The stops took place everywhere: night raids on the outskirts of Palma, spot checks at roundabouts in Manacor, controls after concerts and in holiday areas. Witnesses describe scenes you would not expect: people coming straight out of bars, drivers with alcohol or drugs on their breath, in some cases even people driving to the testing centre — apparently hoping to get their licence back almost incidentally. That is dangerous and naive at the same time.

The legal consequences are clear: driving without a licence is a serious offence. Fines, community service and, in severe cases, imprisonment are possible. Added to that are longer suspension periods, loss of points and the financial risk in accidents — those who drive without valid papers risk insurers refusing to pay.

Why the issue concerns all of us

It is not just about the individual driver. When emergency vehicles take longer in places like Llucmajor or Sa Pobla or neighbours complain about nighttime noise, the community feels the consequences — a problem highlighted by New ambulances, empty seats: How a drivers license shortage is slowing Mallorca's emergency services. Police and courts tie up resources; road safety suffers. Taxis and buses are available, but are often ignored out of habit or to save money. And yes: the sound of sirens in the distance reminds us that this is about more than administrative matters.

Less highlighted aspects

Less attention is paid to how much social and economic reasons play a role. Licence costs, complicated administrative procedures or language barriers particularly affect seasonal workers and young people, and the backlog of tests is significant — see Exam backlog in the Balearic Islands: 7,000 driving students waiting — why are examiners missing?. There is also a network of informal solutions: carpooling without insurance, borrowed keys, loopholes at rental companies. And: those who have lost their licence sometimes try to manage on their own out of fear of bureaucracy — instead of seeking help.

Concrete proposals instead of shrugged shoulders

Controls alone help in the short term, but do not solve the underlying problem. What could help:

1. Low-threshold reintegration: Subsidised refresher courses and clear steps to reissue licences, especially for young drivers and seasonal workers.

2. Better late mobility: Extending taxi and bus services into the late hours, clear night offers in tourist centres and for shift workers.

3. Local prevention: Information campaigns in bars, on construction sites and at driving schools — in several languages.

4. Use technology: Digital checks at rental companies and automatic licence verifications at rental stations, as seen when temporary measures were required for ambulances in December due to driving licence technical issues.

In the short term, further checks and legal actions will reduce the number of cases. In the long term, however, we need a mix of prevention, low-threshold educational offers and better night transport. The island needs safe roads. This is not an abstract appeal — it is the children on the way to school, the pensioner at the roundabout and the emergency services that need to be faster. If we do nothing, we will pay for it in accidents linked to distraction in the Balearic Islands, court files and a worse community life.

The Guardia Civil will continue to carry out checks — and that is a good thing. But excluding people does not help. If we seriously want fewer people driving without a licence, we must address the causes: education, mobility and social accessibility.