In 2015, a quarter of the population aged 16 or over reported a long-term limitation (more than 6 months) in their usual activities due to health problems (according to The health status of the population in France. Report 2017. DREES and France Health Public, 2017). This proportion is low among young people (less than 10 % among 16-24 year olds), and increases gradually with age (30 % among 55-64 year olds and 75 % among 85 or older).
The rules governing the right to drive for people with certain medical conditions are defined in the decree of March 28, 2022 (which repeals the decree of December 21, 2005). This decree establishes the list of diseases that require a medical check-up, and specifies whether there is permanent or temporary incompatibility, or conversely permanent compatibility with preventive treatment or restrictions on driving circumstances (during the day for example). The conditions include ophthalmic, ENT, neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, ENT or musculoskeletal deficits, and diabetes. Any applicant for a driving license or any driver suffering from one of the medical conditions mentioned must seek the opinion of an approved physician on his or her medical aptitude to drive.
This chapter presents several factors that adversely affect driving ability. These include addictions, medications with altering side effects, drowsiness and hypovigilance. The factor of inattention is described in another chapter, because it is not related to health status ("mind wandering" or "thinking elsewhere", telephone use, radio or heating manipulation, etc.).
Lost of consciousness and fatigue are two parameters taken into account in road mortality. Among people over 50 years of age, these causes involve 42 % of drivers of passenger vehicles killed between 65 and 74 years of age and 33 % of those 75 years of age and over (2019-2021 data).