FRENCH MOTORISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 97, 27 April 1938, Page 18

FRENCH MOTORISTS.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION. DOCTORS AND THE UNFIT. PARIS. France would require all applicants for automobile driving permits to submit to a medical examination, and all those not up to par would be given only a conditional permit compelling them to pay part of the damages for any accident they might become involved in, if the distinguished Academy of Medicine had its way.

Under the plan ail holders of driving licenses would have to take out insurance, but in the case of the physically unlit the policy would automatically compel ttiein to pay a certain fraction of the damages out of their own pocket. Furthermore, old drivers with physical and mental powers presumably slowed by age, would be issued a special license limiting them to driving low speed cars. The proposal was brought up once more at the latest Academy of Medicine meeting by Professor Parisot, well known specialist in hygiene—it was first made in 1922 when the Academy voted such a resolution.

In 70 per cent of automobile accidents, Professor Parisot declared, the driver concerned is physically unfit. "In the list of things taking human life," he said, "the automobile ranks ahead of typhoid ami. diphtheria bacilli. Why not apply preventive medicine iu the case of automobile accidents?" He asserted that while all drivers should be compelled to buy insurance, this might make many persons careless in the feeling that the insurance company would bear any loss their mistakes might bring obout. But if all physically under par drivers were under the obligation to pay part of these damages '.hat would be a strong deterrent.

To further its idea and encourage acceptance by tlio law-makers, the doctors will call a national meeting of representative motorists, motor cvcle riders, bicycle riders and pedestrians to discuss it.