Driving license from the age of 17: a change far from unanimously accepted in Sète driving schools

Eric Bourret et son élève Keyan Debza pour sa première heure de conduite. Midi Libre – KELMAN MARTI

Since January 1, 2024, a driving license can be taken from the age of 17 and no longer 18. A measure adopted to promote mobility and professional integration of young people.

"My goal would be to have my driving license by the age of 17. That would be great, it would make my travels easier, and bother my parents less to take me somewhere. And then, I would have more freedom." 

At only 16 years old and even before his first hour of driving, Keyan Debza already imagines himself behind the wheel of a car and this is 1 year from the age of majority.

Happy with the increase in the license to 17 years old, instead of 18 years old, for accompanied and supervised driving, he sees "these practical advantages",  while in the driving schools of Sète notice more "the negative effects" of measure intended to facilitate the mobility of young people and their professional integration.

A lack of maturity ?

For Jacques Gatto, manager of the Littoral driving school and dean of the profession at 77, the effective change since January 1 is &quot ;bullshit. "At this age, 30% of young people behave properly on the roads. But the remaining 70% don't have it and lack maturity, notes the man with 51 years of experience.

"This generation is not aware of the danger. They spend their time virtually on social networks, video games… but behind the wheel many do not have their heads on their shoulders, lance Sophie Miralles from the La Poste driving school.

Some young people share this opinion, like Léa Dousset, 23 years old, who will soon take the final exam: &quot ;If I had had to get my license at 17, I would have been happy for my independence, but I probably wouldn't be fully aware of the danger."  

A greater risk of accident ?

A very real danger and one that affects young people more. The 18-24 age group is the one with the most deaths per million inhabitants (92) in 2023. "Adding 17-18 year olds , I fear that the figures will get worse, thinks Fabienne Campello from the Pavois d'Or driving school.

"This is all the more important, because we are not only talking about accidents, but also deaths young people", adds Jacques Gatto, hand on heart.

Logistics lagging ?

The generally unfavorable position of driving schools for driving licenses at 17 also comes from everyday technical problems.

"We are already missing around ten exam dates per month. Naturally, there will soon be more candidates with the arrival of those aged 17. There are no more dates than before, nor inspectors, so sooner or later, it will be blocked and the deadlines to pass it will be longer, fears Jennifer C., secretary at the Benjamin driving school. However, the one who is also a mother is partly satisfied with the measure, because it will save her from making daily return trips to Saint-Jean-de-Védas, if her son has the license during the summer. year.

Finally, some like Éric Bourret of the Dauphin driving school, are annoyed by "the impatience of young " : "There are some who were doing accompanied driving and who decided to go supervised to try the exam as soon as 17 years old and avoid doing the 3,000 km and 1 year of driving with parents. By doing this, they also lose the advantages of AAC, namely the 12 points after 2 years and not 3, and the cheaper insurance." 

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