What is This “S” That We See Appearing on the Back of Certain Cars on the Roads of France?
Some motorists were able to observe an S badge placed on the rear windshield of certain vehicles. We explain to you what it means.
We see them more and more often on the roads of France. Instead of the traditional A, meaning to others motorists that an “apprentice” driver is on board, some rear windshields feature an S.
This is the first letter of the word “senior”. There are signs to indicate to other drivers that the person in the car is elderly: you do not drive at 80 like you drive at 40.
Not obligatory
Contrary to the idea that had circulated on the social networks in 2024, the installation of this macaron S is in no way obligatory, like road Safety states this on its website.
People who consider it useful to display such a badge on their vehicle are completely free to do so, but there are no plans to make this display compulsory.
Said macaron does indeed exist, and is marketed, in particular by the Signal Seniors association, between 4 and 6 euros. When questioned, Gilles Renard, president of the association, explained that he wanted to “support seniors, many of whom live in rural areas and are forced to take their car”.
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The stated objective is to “protect them from other drivers”. Because as a reminder, like the number there Road safety, “old people have fewer accidents than other age groups but these accidents are more serious due to their greater physical vulnerability to shocks of equal violence: with equal injury, a younger person survives, an older person dies.
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