From next year, French people will be allowed to get their driving license and drive alone from the age of 17. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has reported this. Several traffic associations have already spoken out against a reduction because of the risk of accidents.

Driving a car as a 17-year-old in France is now only allowed under supervision, and only when you are 18 can you drive independently. Loosening the rules should help make young people more mobile, thus increasing the number of young people in education and employment.

‘No notable increase in road accidents’

The 500 euros support paid to young people to finance getting their driving license will also be extended to students at vocational secondary schools.

Road safety organizations that want to reduce road deaths are unhappy with the announcement. Road accidents are the leading cause of death among French aged 18 to 24.

Borne refers to neighboring countries where 17-year-olds can already get a driving license and drive independently and where there has been no notable increase in road accidents among young people since its introduction.

For your information, in Europe, only in the UK and Austria one you drive a car alone at 17 if you hold a driving license.

Reduced train fares?

The Minister also announced the forthcoming launch of a ‘pass’ allowing young people aged between 18 and 20 to take the train free of charge for a month if they are involved in “universal national service (SNU), civic service, or a youth commitment contract”.

As for the idea of reduced train fares for young people, which exist in Germany, the Prime Minister said that she would like to “move in that direction with the Minister for Transport”, provided that “we get the regional councils on board”, which have authority over rail transport in their areas.