A group consisting of driving school representatives, road safety experts and government officials has been set up to discuss potential changes to the French driving test amid concern it leaves young drivers at risk of accidents when they pass.
Obtaining a licence in France usually involves engaging a driving school to prepare for the theory and practical tests. Schools charge at least €1,000.
The theory exam tests candidates on the French highway code (Code de la route) through a series of multiple-choice questions.
For the practical test, candidates must spend at least 25 minutes on the road with an examiner, including both urban and rural driving, and, if practical, a section of autoroute.
The examiner must also ask three questions; one on a technical point concerning the vehicle, one on road safety, and one on first aid.
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The driving test group will also look at ways to end the bottleneck for practical driving tests, which means some candidates are forced to wait months for an examination date.
Patrick Mirouse, head of the ECF network of franchised driving schools, told The Connexion that developing post-licence training would improve road safety.
2025 was a deadlier year on France’s roads than 2024, but
the increase was uneven across the country, according to
provisional data released by prefectures. Some departments
recorded sharp falls in fatalities, while others saw dramatic
increases. The map shows where road deaths changed
most, though the sharpest increases are not necessarily
departments with the highest numbers of fatalities.
“We currently have a voluntary system whereby people can come back to driving schools in the six months after they get their licences,” he said.
“But hardly anyone uses it – only 3,000 to 4,000 people a year. In the months after getting their licence, youngsters get used to driving but forget the dangers, so having a recap would help.”
Making this compulsory would cost at least €60million, he estimated, meaning it would be “complicated” to implement.
Mr Mirouse also recommends lowering the age at which people can start learning to drive.
Currently, learners must be 15 to begin under conduite accompagnée schemes (officially called apprentissage anticipé de la conduite). Mr Mirouse would like to see the age limit reduced to 14.
Conduite accompagnée involves youngsters and adult drivers (usually parents) signing up with a driving school for basic lessons, before the youngsters gain time and experience at the wheel with the adults supervising them.
Keeping logbooks, young drivers must accumulate between 2,000 and 3,000km over a period of two or three years.
They usually only need around 28 hours of driving school instruction, compared to 35 hours under the usual system, and often take their test soon after their 17th birthday.
“People who learn to drive young are usually better drivers,” said Mr Mirouse. “And at 14 you do not need to be able to get around by yourself, you just want to, so there is less pressure and more reward. It is a very good way to learn, cheaper, and the cost is spread over two years.
“When young adults discover they need a driving licence for a job, and want to get one fast, they usually only do the bare minimum.”
He added that young men made up 80% of those killed on roads in the 18 to 24-year age group. “It is a mecs (lads) culture, which pushes them to drive recklessly,” he said. “We need to try to change that too.”
