Drivers aged 75 will no longer have to have a doctor complete the form attesting to their state of health to renew their driver’s license at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
From now on, a new mandatory medical self-declaration form is now sent to license holders who have reached the age of 75. For 80-year-old drivers, there is no change. The latter will have to continue to submit to medical and visual checks every two years, as is currently the case.
This way of doing things will reduce the pressure on the healthcare system by reducing bureaucracy, while improving the client experience by simplifying procedures.
License holders aged 75, who represent approximately 55,000 clients per year, were required to submit to the SAAQ the results of medical examinations recorded in two forms completed by a doctor and an eye specialist.
“The Quebec health system has been under great demand in recent months and we are aware of it. By increasing the effectiveness of our medical checks, we can better identify drivers who represent a risk and thus ensure that safety remains the priority on our roads,” said François Bonnardel, Minister of Transport.
Listen to Mario Dumont’s interview with Mario Vaillancourt, SAAQ spokesperson, on QUB radio:
In recent years, less than 2% of people aged 75 had their driver’s license suspended following a medical or visual examination.
The SAAQ adds that only people who have declared a medical problem that cannot be compatible with the safe driving of a vehicle will be subject to examinations by health professionals.
“Improved living conditions and increased life expectancy mean that Quebecers live longer and healthier lives. As a result, drivers aged 75 are in better health than in the past. However, the new way of doing things will not be implemented to the detriment of road safety, but rather with a view to improving our efficiency and our customer service,” added Denis Marsolais, President and Chief Executive Officer of the SAAQ.
Controls will be put in place to ensure the accuracy of the information provided by licensees is guaranteed.