Medical testing for drivers

1

• Medical testing for drivers
• in France

MEDRIL Project Brussels ( 25/11/2005)
25 November 2005 Jean-Pierre Fougère
co-vice-director of Road Safety
2

INITIAL MEDICAL TESTING
Driving licence candidates

• Of category B for professional usage (taxis,
  ambulances, public transport of persons and for
  picking up school children)
• Of categories BE (light vehicles) and C, D, CE
  and DE (heavy vehicles)
• Who have lost sight in one eye or who wear
  corrective lenses

3
INITIAL MEDICAL TESTING
Driving licence candidates

• - who have declared, on registration, an
  impairment which may be incompatible with
  driving
• - have a handicap in one or several limbs
• - are registered invalids for civil or military
  reasons
• - as a result of observations made by the
  examiner during the driving test.

4
Ongoing medical testing
Drivers

• Who are holders of category B licences for
  professional reasons, categories BE (light
  vehicles), C, CE, D and DE (heavy vehicles) for
  renewing their licences at the following times
• - under 60 years old every 5 years - from 60
  to 76 every 2 years - 76 every year.
• ( This frequency can be reduced )
• - Who are category B licence holders with a
  temporary validity (6 months to 5 years) for
  medical reasons, following the declaration made
  when registrering for the initial driving
  licence.

5
Occasional medical testing
Drivers

• - suffering from a temporary or permanent
  condition which is incompatible with driving, and
  gained after the licence was obtained
• who have had their licences withdrawn by a judge
  or following loss of all penalty points
• - subjected to a suspension of the licence for
  longer than 1 month
• - Hospitalised according to the law of 27 June
  1990 (opinion of a psychiatrist)

6
Occasional medical testing ( 2 )

• - Drivers in accidents with personal injury
  involving speed, or consumption of alcohol or
  drugs
• - If the regional administration obtains
  information (from government, family) pertaining
  to a medical condition of a driver which may be
  incompatible with driving.

7
Medical bodies at departmental level

• Two possibilities
• - general practitioners
• - medical committees.

8

• General practitioners
• - recognised by regional government (subject
  to renewal every 2 years)
• - who have received special training
• Scope of responsbility
• only for preventative measures, namely
• . Candidates for categories BE, C, CE, D,
  DE
• . Renewal of the above licences and category B
  for professional usage
• . In application of legal texts (decree
  of 7 May 1997)
• . No way of departing from the rules

9

• Medical committees at departmental level
• Consisting of two accredited doctors
• Based in government buildings
• must apply the relevant laws (decree of 7 May
  1997)
• - no way of departing from the rules
• - may request the opinion of a specialist
  doctor
• - conveys their final decision to the
  administration.

10

• Right to appeal at departmental level
• Appeals committee general practitioners
• specialist doctors
• Chosen by the administration
• Consisting of
• 3 general practitioners
• 3 specialist doctors(cardiologist,
  urologist, ophtalmologist, psychiatrist )

11
 Caravan  licence, heavy goods licence, B
licence after declaration
Offenders, Institutionalisation, Exemption from
wearing seatbelt, Physically handicapped
Possible opinion of specialist doctor
Possible specialist opInion of appeals committee
Main medical committee
Recognised GP clinic
Cannot determine fitness
Fit-to-drive
Temp. fitness ½ to 5 years
Unfit
If challenged
Registration or renewal of licence
Medical appeals committee
Possible involvement of one of 2 national
committees
12
National medical bodies

• The C.P.I.P. (Permanent Commission for Physical
  Disabilities)
• - Government and medical representatives
• - Chaired by the Director of Road Traffic
  Safety
• - the vice-President is responsible for
  overseeing medical testing in France
• - Establishes a list of physical disabilities
• - Is the last body for resolving delicate cases
  which cannot be resolved at more local level

13

• The C.N.E. (National Testing Committee)
• - examines persons with amputations or with
  locomotor disorders
• - can depart from the rules.

14
(No Transcript)