There are no mandatory medical examinations to maintain rights

It controversial bill which was put to the vote of the European Parliament this Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Amendment 98, which included a bill from MP and environmental activist Karima Delli, was rejected by 323 votes againstreceiving 270 votes in favor.
This amendment, which was presented as aiming to reduce the number of road deaths, called for “restrictive measures” aimed at tightening the conditions of access to driving licenses, as well as shortening their validity period, which aims to put an end to one of our basic rights : driver’s license for life.
Indeed, according to this project, the renewal of driving licenses every 15 years for cars and motorcycles (5 years for heavy vehicles) will depend on mandatory medical examinations, aimed at assessing a person’s ability to drive a car. At the same time, each driver will undergo a health check, check vision, hearing and reflexes.

The decision depends on each EU member state

Be careful not to declare victory too quickly. However, this decision, taken at European level, does not draw a line under the possibility of limiting our driving licenses to a medical examination every 15 years: in fact, it is now up to each member state to decide whether to renew the license. the driver’s license is subject to a medical examination. Therefore, Karima Delli is still campaigning for the study of this project at the level of France…
On the Old Continent, the renewal of a driver’s license depends on a medical examination in some countries, such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and the Czech Republic. In our regions it is a controversial measure which stands out because it has the consequences of depriving the right to autonomy of people with instability and the most isolated citizens, especially in rural areas where public transport is absent or not adapted.
The French government, through its transport minister, also wanted to reassure us by saying a few months ago that “We are not supporters of the idea of ​​an age license”. “When you’re an elderly person, especially in a rural area, you need a car”Clément Bohn clarifies.

The association “40 million motorists” recently launched a petition against the project.

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