The new rules cover offences including speeding, drink driving, using a mobile phone at the wheel and ignoring red lights.

These rules, which aim to ensure equal treatment of drivers and improve road safety, will be extended to the UK, Ireland and Denmark within two years.

‘To fulfill the new EU target of cutting road deaths by half we need new and more effective road-safety instruments, such as this directive to fight impunity. Citizens are of course never thrilled to receive a letter telling them they have committed a traffic offence, but they too welcome the fact that everyone in the EU will be treated equally, no matter where their vehicle is registered,’ said Spanish MP Inés Ayala Sender.

The move has been greeted by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and TISPOL – the European Traffic Police Network – which highlighted that non-resident drivers account for approximately 5% of road traffic in the EU but are responsible for 15% of speeding offences, according to European Commission figures. The law is expected to save at least 400 lives a year.

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), said: ‘Today’s vote will help put an end to the injustice of foreign drivers escaping traffic penalties while locals get punished for the same offence. This is a long overdue change. The deterrent effect is important, knowing that you can be caught plays a key role in preventing dangerous driving.’

The law will come into effect in most EU countries later this year; Denmark, Ireland and the UK will have two additional years. Those three countries opted-out of an earlier version of the rules, but agreed to back a new proposal after the European Court of Justice ruled last year that the legal basis had to be changed. The rules are also set to be reviewed in 2016.

TISPOL general secretary Ruth Purdie commented: ‘The next step will be to improve enforcement of traffic laws across the EU, starting with minimum standards for large-scale, regular and visible police enforcement actions on the three main causes of death: speeding, failure to wear a seat belt and drink driving.’