Driving in France could soon be subject to a mandatory medical check-up. Around a hundred MPs, led by Frédéric Valletoux, are proposing to make obtaining and renewing a driving licence conditional on a visit to a general practitioner. This measure, which aims to guarantee drivers' fitness, could mark the end of the lifetime driving licence.
A medical check-up every fifteen years?
Currently, French drivers are only subject to no regular medical check-ups, except in the case of specific pathologies or when reported by relatives. The proposed law provides for the introduction of a mandatory medical examination every fifteen years for all drivers holding an A or B license, in line with the validity period of the new bank card-format license, mandatory from 2033. For seniors aged 70 and over, this frequency would be reduced to one visit every five years.
The reform is based on practices already in force in several European countries. In Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Italy, regular medical checkups are required for drivers. In France, only professional license holders are subject to periodic medical checkups. The goal is therefore to harmonize the rules at the European level.
An already controversial measure
According to an Ifop survey conducted In February 2024, nearly 60% of French people support the idea of regular medical check-ups for all drivers, and 70% approve of this measure for seniors. For Floraine Jullian, co-founder of the collective Saving Lives is Permitted, emphasizes that this responsibility should not fall on families: “It is not up to loved ones to tell someone that they are no longer able to drive. The state must put in place a clear mechanism to guarantee safety on our roads“.
For her, the current lack of control is inconsistent: “We are asked for a medical certificate to play ping-pong or practice an amateur sport, but nothing to drive a car when 90% of accidents are caused by human error“. She also points out that this problem does not only concern seniors.
Despite these arguments, the proposal is not unanimous. The 40 million motorists association denounces an attack on the fundamental principle of the lifetime license and has launched a petition against this text. Its members also fear an administrative and financial burden for drivers, who will have to pay more to keep their driving license.
Towards a harmonized digital license
This reform is part of a broader process of European harmonization. By 2030, the European Parliament and Council plan to introduce a digital license throughout the European Union and to harmonize license withdrawals between Member States. While medical checks remain optional at the European level for the time being, they could become mandatory in France. While the measure promises to reduce risks associated with drivers' physical or mental incapacity, it also raises concerns about its cost and implementation.
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