Letters: French driving tests are old fashioned and need updating

To the Editor,

Road safety for drivers in France needs lots of creative updating and enforcing, as well as encouragement.

As an example, may I give the experience of my driving test in Vancouver (Canada) at age 18, over 65 years ago. 

The test entailed step by step stages, a failure at any one stage meaning failure of the test. Here are the stages:

1. Written test with multiple choice answers on rules of the road and matters of vehicle safety.

2. Reaction test in a controlled cubicle against green, orange, red traffic lights being flashed, monitoring speed of reaction on the red, from accelerator to brake+clutch pedals provided. This lasted a few minutes. 

3. Up to an hour's driving test with examiner in Vancouver city including handling city traffic (bad luck if it was rush hour!), fluent/easy use of controls and facilities of the car, never exceed speed limit (especially 15mph past schools and hospitals - instant failure if you did). 

Read more: Medical check-ups every five years proposed for drivers over 70 in France

I believe British Columbia. now requires proper medicals for elderly drivers at ages 80, 85 and every two years thereafter. 

Also there are official rafts of rules and recommendations to help senior drivers keep going. 

C Ley-Wilson, Lot

How do driving tests compare to those in your home country? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com