Compulsory Health Checks to Keep Your Licence - Yes or No?

It’s been spoken about for a long time now, but it seems the European Parliament is, once again, looking at bringing in compulsory health checks every 15 years for drivers and riders, and checks every five years for those over the age of 70.

The vote will take place in the EU Parliament today, and it’s being put forward by Karima Delli, Europe Ecology MEP, who is backed up by car crash survivor and athlete Pauline Déroulède.

Karima Delli is the same MEP who in 2023 proposed lower speed limits for motorcycles, a move that was widely ridiculed by riders and rider groups.

Déroulède, a successful tennis player, lost her leg after an elderly driver drove into her while she was on the pavement after the driver mistook the brake of their car for the accelerator. She is now a member of the French Paralympic wheelchair tennis team and is campaigning for more scrutiny of elderly motorists.

While the motion is being put forward in the EU, which the UK left in 2020, it still may have some bearing on UK drivers. Both because the UK has, on many topics, continued to align with its European neighbours, but also because many people who live in the UK enjoy riding and driving on the continent.

The proposed test would assess the eyesight, hearing and reflexes of the driver, with the doctor then granted the ability to withdraw the driver's licence should they deem them not meeting the standards required.

Moto-Station also reports that some other MEPs are pushing for mandatory screening for the most common drugs, including THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. That’s a move that some European nations have already implemented.

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