Although there is no upper age limit to having a French driving licence, the right to retain it is conditional on the authorities being satisfied as to a person's capacity to drive safely.
As a result, a medical examination may be required following a traffic offence or due to a medical condition.
A driver is required to have a medical examination in the event of either:
- Invalidation of their licence due to complete loss of points;
- Cancellation or suspension of their licence for longer than 1 month;
- A drink-drive or drug-drive offence;
For offences involving alcohol or drug consumption, the process takes place through the local préfecture, when an appointment needs to be made with the commission médicale via the préfecture.
In all other circumstances an appointment must be made with an accredited doctor (médecin agréé), who cannot be the driver's own GP. All préfectures have a list of such doctors on their website. Prior to the visit a medical questionnaire must be completed.
In the case of a loss of licence for more than 6 months, an examination by a psychologist is also required.
The fees of these examinations are not substantial, but they are not reimbursable by the social security system.
It is the local préfet who will make the final decision on whether a licence should be returned. They are not obliged to follow the medical advice received and a favourable decision may be subject to conditions. If the decision is to return the licence, then an application for a new one is made on the driving licence agency (ANTs) website.
There is a right of appeal against the decision of the préfet.
Where a person has a specified medical condition, they are required to undergo a medical examination by a médecin agréé to establish their fitness to drive.
The law states: 'Le titulaire d’un permis de conduire, atteint de l’une des affections médicales mentionnées….., selon le permis dont il est titulaire, sollicite, dès qu’il a connaissance de cette affection, l’avis d’un médecin agrée.'
The medical conditions are:
- Cardiovascular pathologies : permanent very severe heart failure and symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Sleep disorders: excessive sleepiness, persistent despite treatment, regardless of the cause.
- Addictions: proven dependence on alcohol or drugs with psycho-behavioural impact and refusal of treatment.
- Vision disorders : visual acuity less than 5/10th far after optical correction (glasses, contact lenses, surgery ...). Major narrowing of the visual field of both eyes. Permanent diplopia (double vision) that cannot be corrected by any optical or surgical therapy. Permanent and uncontrollable closure of the eyelids.
- Psychiatric neurological disorders : major neurological disorder (paralysis of the limbs without prosthesis or vehicle adaptation). Chronic instability causing severe balance and coordination disorders. Acute and chronic dementia or psychosis if there are clinical manifestations which may interfere with driving.
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However, an examination can only be made at the request of the licence holder, unless it is required due to a traffic incident above.
Although the police may alert the préfet to the medical condition of a driver, unless there has been a serious traffic incident, the préfet is not permitted to act on it.
Neither is a GP entitled to refer a patient to the authorities. They can only advise a person to undertake an examination, which they are entitled to accept or decline.
Nevertheless, if, after a road accident, it is established that one of the causal factors was a driver's medical condition, this would invalidate their insurance.
The process for booking a medical examination on grounds of a known medical condition is the same as for traffic offences, although a prior consultation with a GP is advisable.
The government has recently published proposals to tighten up the whole process, but they have stopped short of obliging elderly persons to undertake a medical examination, over and above the current legal framework. The lack of any significant public transport infrastructure in rural areas is a major factor in that decision.
There are separate procedures in place for those who drive in a professional capacity, such as taxi and HGV drivers, who need to have a medical examination.
