There are certain signs that you should stop driving.
With life expectancy increasing, many older drivers remain active on the roads. However, as we age, physical and cognitive abilities decrease: fewer reflexes, increased reaction time, reduced vision and hearing, taking medications that can disrupt driving, etc. To improve the safety of seniors at behind the wheel, the European Commission and road safety had proposed in 2024 the introduction of a specific driving license for those over 70, conditional on compulsory and regular medical examinations. Although the subject has been debated by Parliamentarians, the measure has not yet been adopted in France (and is not planned for 2025).
So up to what age are you allowed to drive according to the Highway Code? In theory, there is no maximum age for driving; the B license is now valid for life. The Highway Code and the Insurance Code do not provide for any compulsory driving test or medical examination, whether occasional or regular, for motorists of advanced age. “Age in itself is not a contraindication to driving. The elderly person very usually adapts the use of the car and their driving behavior according to the difficulties they might encounter and in order to limit the risks when using the road: driving during the day, shorter, more reassuring journeys, and above all known”, explains Professor Sylvie Bonin-Guillaume, geriatrician at APHP in a press release from the French Society of Geriatrics & Gerontologye.
To know if you can still drive or let a loved one drive, you must observe possible danger signs: loss of vision, cognitive disorders, etc. In addition to this, from the age of 70-75, it is advisable to:
► Self-assess: do I feel comfortable behind the wheel? Do I see clearly enough to read all the signs? Am I able to pivot backwards to look at my blind spot?
► Consult your doctor to check your fitness to drive. Only the doctor approved by the Prefecture can temporarily or permanently prohibit driving.
► Participate in an awareness workshop for seniors (on a voluntary basis): found everywhere in France, these special moments with driving professionals give the keys to getting back up to speed in order to drive in the best. Local authorities, associations, prefectures, mutual societies and insurers offer this type of training.
► Adapt your vehicle: automatic gearbox, electric adjustment of mirrors, seats, etc. to concentrate fully on the road.
► Carefully check the pictograms on the medication boxes in case of treatment (some are incompatible with driving).
“In more than 85% of cases, the person spontaneously stops driving, especially if they feel in difficulty,” continues the expert. According to data from the 3C Inserm cohort, we see that in the general population, women stop driving on average at 79 years old and men at 82 years old. “Stopping driving is exceptionally urgent, must be anticipated, concerted in a multidisciplinary team with if necessary a driving test to be better experienced, for this support can help to implement a new mode of travel or a change in habits of travel or life, or even a move”.