Senior Driving License: Do Older Drivers Have to Take Driving Aptitude Tests?

Road safety recommends refresher courses for senior drivers
So is there a regulatory framework for assessing the driving abilities of our seniors in France? No, the Highway Code does not provide for any mandatory driving test or medical examination, whether occasional or regular, for older motorists.

There are no specific rules regarding age, confirms Bruno Garancher, president of the National Inter-Union of Driving Instructors (Unedic), apart from a check by age group concerning the driving of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

However, there is the possibility of carrying out driving tests on a voluntary basis. If those over 75 do not feel fully fit to drive due to some difficulty in controlling a vehicle, they can contact their doctor or approved doctors to carry out sensory examinations, psychomotor and cognitive tests.

The health professional, who may also be alerted by a relative of the person concerned, can decide on the driver’s fitness to drive only during the day, give advice on taking medication or in relation to physical pain, etc.

Road Safety recommends refresher courses