Pauline Déroulède’s life was turned upside down on October 27, 2018. That day, while she was sitting on her scooter, stationary, on a sidewalk in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, she was hit head-on by a car, driven by a 92-year-old man who accelerated, instead of braking. Pauline Déroulède was violently thrown several dozen meters. She probably owes her life to her helmet, which she had not taken off. But, unfortunately, she had to have one of her legs amputated. Since then, this tennis enthusiast, who is preparing for the next Paralympic Games, has fought for the establishment of regular medical examinations, in order to validate motorists’ fitness to drive.
“This accident would never have happened if this gentleman had stopped driving,” confides Pauline Déroulède. In France, we are very committed against alcohol or telephone driving. But we can drive until we die, without any medical control. » She does not wish, however, to “stigmatize” seniors. “We are not all equal, and someone who is 80 years old may have better abilities than someone who is 50 and who suffers from an illness,” confides Pauline Déroulède. This wheelchair tennis champion is campaigning for medical checks to be put in place “for all drivers”. However, these examinations will have to be more frequent, she notes, as we get older.
On seniors and driving, “we cannot turn a blind eye”
According to the latest report from the Road Safety Observation, senior drivers were, in 2022, “more often presumed responsible for fatal accidents (in 64% of cases) than other drivers (56% of cases)”. However, “the number of seniors presumed responsible compared to the million inhabitants of this age is equivalent after 75 years to the similar ratio for 25-34 year olds, and lower than that for 18-24 year olds. However, compared to the mileage traveled, the risk of being presumed responsible for 75-84 year olds exceeds that of 25-34 year olds, and, for those 85 and over, that of 18-24 year olds.
Two deputies, affected by the story of Pauline Déroulède, are working on supervising the conduct of seniors. Bruno Millienne (Modem), elected from Yvelines, has drafted a bill, which requires motorists aged 75 or over to undergo a medical check-up every five years, to verify that they are still fit to take the road. . Doctors will be able to decide on a total or partial ban (only at night, for example), from driving. “I don’t know if this law will be adopted, but I think, at least, that this subject deserves to be debated,” confides Bruno Millienne. We cannot turn a blind eye,” he notes.
“People won’t stop driving of their own free will”
Patrick Vignal (LREM), deputy for Hérault, is also working on this thorny issue. He began a vast investigation, where he interviewed doctors, driving schools, motorist associations and of course, elderly people. He is also in favor of the establishment of medical checks for seniors. But constraining them is not the right solution, according to Patrick Vignal. He prefers to encourage older people to self-assess, in driving simulators, for example, so that they may eventually become aware that they are no longer capable of driving. “It’s about joining, not obeying,” confides the MP. Pauline Déroulède thinks that a law is needed. “As long as we do not impose a legal framework, people, of their own free will, will not stop driving,” she assures. I will always remember what the driver who hit me said to me: he told me that if there had been a law, he would have respected it. »
But if we confiscate an elderly person’s license, what happens to them? For Patrick Vignal, when a senior can no longer drive, we must offer them simple alternatives so that they can get around. “An 80-year-old grandmother, who lives in Saint-Nazaire-de-Pézan, and who has an appointment at the Montpellier hospital, she needs the car,” confides Patrick Vignal. What if she wants to join her friends to play bridge? Without her car, she is cut off from all social ties. » The MP is considering in particular the establishment of a “Blablacar for seniors”, which would allow elderly people to be taken by neighbors, for example. Pauline Déroulède is also in favor of these alternative solutions. “It’s obviously not a question of leaving people stranded, in their isolated countryside, when they are no longer able to drive,” she confides.
“I am opposed to a complete medical examination”
Checking the ability of motorists to drive is also on the table, at European level. MEP Karima Delli (EELV), president of the Transport Committee, presented on September 18 a project aimed at revising the rules governing permits in the European Union. Among his proposals, a “compulsory medical examination” for all, “to ensure that people driving a vehicle are in full possession of their means”. Before the age of 60, they will have to stick to it every ten years. After 60, every seven years. After age 70, every five years. And after 80 years, every two years.
But bothering seniors about their ability to get behind the wheel is divisive. Claudette Brialix, president of the National Federation of Associations and Friends of the Elderly and their Families (Fnapaef), questions the introduction of these medical visits. “First of all, an “elderly person” doesn’t mean much: 65 years old, 70, 75, 80, 90 years old, it’s not the same thing,” she confides. And then these elderly people, where do they live? In an urban area, well served by public transport? Or in an isolated area? Do they drive during the day or at night? Do they have relatives near them? » If we take into account all these particularities, Claudette Brialix is not opposed to the implementation of certain systems. Like a vision check or a “knowledge update” on the Highway Code. “But I am opposed to a definitive medical examination, which would definitively decide that we can drive or that we can no longer drive,” confides the president of Fnapaef.
The Minister of Transport is not in favor of these medical examinations
Roger Perret, president of the National Union of Retirees and the Elderly (UNRPA), he too does not think “well” of these systematic medical visits after a certain age. “Elderly people are already stigmatized a lot, and adding more would complicate their lives even more and call into question their dignity,” he confides. It is not opposed, however, in the case of a disabling pathology, to a doctor telling an elderly person that they are no longer fit to take the road.
Interrogates on Sud Radio on October 5, the Minister of Transport himself, Clément Beaune, made it known that he was not in favor of the establishment of these medical examinations. “When you are an elderly person, especially in rural areas, you need a car,” he confided. France does not support the idea of imposing a form of (…) expiry date (…) for the driving license. » This statement from Clément Beaune “shocked” Pauline Déroulède “a lot. When she embarked on this fight, five years ago, “I didn’t expect it to be so difficult,” she confides. The car, in France, is sacred. And with the elderly, we reach a significant electorate. And this requires completely reforming our mobility system. »