Chloé Lagadou // Photo credit: SOLÈNE ARTAUD / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 09:16, June 21, 2023

Every day, Europe 1 looks at an idea or a problem in your daily life. Elisabeth Borne announced on Tuesday to advance the age of the passage of the driving license exam from 18 to 17 years. A measure that should help young people in apprenticeships, or living in rural areas. Europe 1 went to meet the French to find out what they thought.

The measure is presented as a real plus for young apprentices. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced the advancement of the legal age to pass the driving license. From now on, young French people will be able to take the exam from the age of 17, and drive in the process. But this announcement worries road safety associations. They recall that road accidents are the leading cause of death among 18-24 year olds. For their part, the French met by Europe 1 are divided.

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"They have something else to think about than the driver's license"

Turnkey, Françoise pays for parking for her car. This motorist rolls his eyes at the idea of sharing the road with 17-year-old drivers. "We are not mature at 17 years old," she judges at the microphone of Europe 1. "And they haven't finished school anyway, so they have something else to think about than a driver's license," she continues. But for Isabelle, getting a driver's license a year earlier is a good initiative. "Between urban rodeos and those who drive in cars without a license, it should empower them a little," she said.

An exam that will remain just as demanding

Empowering young people, but also allowing them to integrate more easily into the world of work: two advantages believe Maëva and Sarah, high school students. "I have a friend who lives in the suburbs, she is not yet 18 years old and she is struggling to find an internship. So if she could pass it at 17, it would be much better for her," Maëva said. "And we also live far from schools. You have to take the metro and everything. So if we had a car, it would be more convenient," Sarah adds.

The driving licence examination will remain unchanged, with the same requirement as at 18.