Driving at an advanced age raises complex issues in our aging society. Between road safety and independence, the choice to surrender one’s license is a divisive one, with a marked trend: women hand over the reins much earlier than men.
Driving after 65: between independence and road safety
In France, a peculiarity of the highway code often intrigues: the driver’s license has no expiration date. Thus, nothing legally prevents a nonagenarian from getting behind the wheel. Statistics reveal that in 2023, nearly two-thirds of French people over the age of 65 owned a car. For this age group, the car represents much more than a simple means of transportation – it’s a symbol of mobility and independence.
Yet aging is inevitably accompanied by physiological changes: longer reaction times, decreased visual acuity, and fluctuating attention spans. These changes, while natural, can make driving more complex and potentially dangerous.
Overrepresentation in fatal accidents
The data speaks for itself: drivers over the age of 75 are involved in approximately 15% of fatal accidents. This figure continues to rise year after year. Paradoxically, current legislation does not impose any mandatory medical checkups for this age group.
The European Union had considered a reform in 2024 establishing a specific permit for people in their seventies, accompanied by a systematic health examination. A salutary proposal for some , deemed ageist by others… Ultimately, the project did not come to fruition.
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