Thousands of drivers aged 65 and over are labelling themselves on the roads, with a rise in the use of stickers designed to warn other motorists of their age. The 'Signal Seniors' association has sold stickers to older drivers in France since 2016, and an increasing number of vehicles are now taking advantage of the scheme.
The badges feature a large letter S alongside the words 'Votre aîné au volant', French for 'senior citizen at the wheel'. The badges are not mandatory and do not need to be used, but they can send a message to other road users to take extra caution around vehicles.
15,000 badges sold over the past decade
The association has now sold as many as 15,000 badges over the past decade. The labels are also cheap, with road users charged just €4 (£3.44) for a self-adhesive sticker, or €6 (£5.16) for a magnetic badge. The 15cm x 15cm logo is designed to be placed on the rear of the vehicle, ensuring that it is visible to motorists following a car.
The stickers are similar to 'A' badges available for newly qualified road users, or the 'baby on board' stickers. Motorists can secure the stickers at any age, but those over 65 could benefit most. Data shows that some 16% of drivers on French roads are aged above 65.
Potential help for British pensioners
The stickers could be helpful for any British pensioners planning to take their vehicles across the continent to France on holiday. These can be picked up online ahead of a trip, giving older drivers an extra peace of mind before embarking on a long trip on foreign soil.
Signal Senior said: "Should we simply forbid all our seniors from driving or from undergoing some kind of medical examination? We believe it is more sensible to preserve their independence while it is still possible rather than discriminate against them.
"That is why the Signal Senior association has found an alternative for everyone; far from wanting to make this disc mandatory for all our seniors, we believe it should only be used by elderly people who have slightly lost confidence behind the wheel and who want to feel more reassured by being visible to other drivers."
No plans to make badges mandatory
However, French officials have already confirmed there are no plans to make the badges mandatory, meaning elderly road users are not being forced to display the sticker. Sécurité routière, France's road safety authority, said: "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."
