The senior permit, a device that is currently causing debate within French society, has become a hot topic for some time. The recent upsurge in traffic accidents involving older drivers has reignited concerns about the appropriateness of maintaining a lifetime driver’s license for this population.
This situation raises crucial questions: should we subject older drivers to regular assessments to check their driving skills? Is it perhaps time to question the very concept of a lifetime license? These questions give rise to heated debates, where the arguments for and against the senior license clash, with major implications for road safety and the well-being of older drivers.
Should older drivers be tested regularly to check their driving performance? Is it time to end the lifetime license?
The arguments in favor of the senior license
There are several reasons why activists are sounding the alarm:
- The increase in vulnerability senior drivers at risk of accidents.
- The need for a regular medical check-up to ensure the fitness to drive of the elderly.
- The possibility of detect health problems that may affect driving and remedy them.
According to a survey conducted by Dekra, expert in automobile claims management, 75% of drivers would be in favor of the introduction of a senior license.
Read also: Senior license: soon a reality or a simple myth?
Reviews of the device
However, some deplore a stigmatization of seniors and argue that older drivers are generally safer on the road. In addition, they point out that the device could be expensive and complex to implement.
The senior license around the world
In France, as in other countries of the Greater Region such as Germany and Belgium, seniors can drive without age restriction. Nevertheless, in the face of accidents involving elderly people, some countries have adopted measures to regulate their fitness to drive.
Examples of regulations abroad
Here are some examples of measures implemented in different countries:
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- The UK : drivers over 70 must renew their license every three years and self-declare their fitness to drive.
- In the USA : rules vary by state, but some require more frequent license renewals or eye exams for older drivers.
- In Japan : drivers over the age of 75 must pass a cognitive test when renewing their licence.
Read also: Driver’s license: Is the end of the lifetime license planned for this summer of 2023?
Towards an implementation of the senior license in France?
As the debate on the senior permit is still topical, no measure has yet been adopted in France. Nevertheless, legislative proposals have been mentioned, such as the creation of a digital platform listing state and community aid to finance driving licenses. This platform, entitled “A young person, a permit”, would allow applicants to find out about the funding available in their region thanks to their postal code.
Pending a possible implementation of the senior license, it is up to each of become aware of their abilities and limitations when driving. Prevention remains the best solution to avoid accidents and guarantee the safety of all on the road.