Ten people were hit and seriously injured in a road accident at an international kite event this weekend in Berk-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais. The 76-year-old driver lost control, confused the brake and gas pedal, and drove into the crowd.

This tragic case revives the debate about The validity period of a driver’s license for pensioners, which is currently unlimited in our regions. According to Road Safety, people over the age of 75 are among the highest road deaths after 18-24-year-olds.

Should we terminate the lifetime license? pic.twitter.com/HFofxkGfL1

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) April 24, 2023

Permit validity: what about other countries?

France is one of the few countries in the European Union where driving licenses have a permanent validity period. In fact, the obtained license is valid for the entire life of the driver lack of medical examination is currently not conducted for seniors to test their ability to drive.

As in France, our German or Belgian neighbors do not conduct any checks on the elderly, as in Poland. The United Kingdom is a special case because driving is subject to an administrative procedure from the age of 70: the driver must declare every three years whether he considers himself fit to drive by completing a health questionnaire.

Some other countries impose mandatory medical examinations, as in the Netherlands from the age of 75, in Denmark or Finland from the age of 70, in Spain or the Czech Republic from the age of 65. In Italy and Portugal, the control is even stricter, as it is mandatory from the age of 50.

Driver’s license for the rest of your life

In France, the issue of driving licenses for the elderly is the subject of much debate. Indeed, several bills on this topic have been introduced in recent years, but each time they have been rejected.

The argument made to keep the lifetime license for the elderly is theirs independence in everyday lifeespecially in rural and remote areas of the country: indeed, without a driver’s license, these already vulnerable people would sink into even greater isolation and loneliness.

However, discussions on this topic continue. Indeed, a a new reform proposal Driving licenses are currently being studied by the government, which is proposing to introduce a skills test every five years for senior motorists aged 65 and over. This proposal may well be formalized as early as this summer of 2023.