Are elderly drivers in France required to use an ‘S’ sticker?

Articles in French media have highlighted an increasing number of cars on French roads using an ‘S’ sticker.

These stickers placed on the back of vehicles, can be used by elderly drivers (typically older than 65 or 70) to indicate their age to other drivers.

The stickers are a large S, usually with an additional few words at the bottom or top such as ‘Votre aîné au volant’ (senior citizen at the wheel). 

The stickers are sold on several online marketplaces including Amazon, as well as physically in many shops, for a few euros. 

The ‘Signal Seniors’ association sells them for €4 to €6, and has sold around 15,000 since the stickers were first created a decade ago.

They are similar to the ‘A’ stickers for newly-qualified drivers, or the classic ‘baby on board’ stickers for new parents, indicating drivers should take additional caution around these vehicles.

Stickers are not becoming mandatory

Some media outlets have dubbed the stickers ‘new’ in the latest round of articles, but as mentioned they have been around for several years on French roads.

The stickers typically make an appearance in media articles alongside claims that they are to become mandatory, often purported on social media.

This however is not the case, and any such claims are bogus or fake news.

The stickers are completely optional for drivers and there are no plans to make them a legal requirement. 

“People who consider it useful to display such a badge on their vehicle are completely free to do so but there is no plan to make this display compulsory,” says the Sécurité routière, France’s road safety authority, on its website. 

In addition, no major party has announced making these stickers mandatory as part of future plans. 

Are they good to use?

As they are not a legal requirement, there is no minimum age requirement, but most drivers using the stickers are over 65, with some websites recommending them for drivers over 70 years of age.

There is debate on whether the stickers are a good idea or stigmatise older drivers.

Elderly drivers (65+) are responsible for only 22% of fatal accidents, compared to 37% caused by under 35s. 

At the same time, they are at higher risk of death on the roads, accounting for 25% of fatalities from accidents.

This however is due to being more susceptible to death from injury because of their age, rather than their driving habits.

France remains one of the few European countries where elderly drivers do not need to take a mandatory medical test to renew their licence, except under departmental request.

Under new European laws all drivers must complete a self-assessment when obtaining or renewing a driving licence.

The EU has urged all member states to implement mandatory medical tests for elderly driver licence renewals – although MEPs voted to reject this being required – but the idea is unpopular in France.