French Life, The Driving Medical

France has different rules than the UK relating to driving. One of these is the medical.

It is normally encountered when a person needs to change their licence from UK to French because of age. The UK licence is valid until the person is 70 ( except for the catch whereby the photo is only valid for 10 years). It is not possible to apply for an extension to the UK licence unless you have a UK address so change to the French one is imperative.
Likewise the French licence is less inclusive than that from the UK and for example a special licence is required for towing a caravan or other large trailer. Suprisingly large trailers and caravans also have to have separate registration documents, number plates and mot.
So, the medical. I have not yet had to go through this but a number of our customers have and the process is always discussed with some incredulity.
The person is asked a few general questions, asked to identify colours by means of different discs being held aloft and has a general eyesight test.
This is followed by the introduction of a wooden step, similar to a shoe cleaner's set up. Walk up the  two steps, jump off the top one, step onto the top one, walk down again.
Then comes the part that nobody believes, whilst you are standing on the step, the doctor pulls, as if by magic, a toy monkey from behind his back and throws it at you. Catch with your left hand, catch with your right hand, catch it. The monkey is spinning around the room like the finale of the Cirque Soleil and if you catch it you pass and can tow a trailer!!!

Those of you reading this in the UK may well think you get off light, well be warned. I hear that the same type of test will soon be introduced by the UK but that the monkey catch will have to be done whilst holding a mobile phone to your ear and having a mcdonalds in the other hand, to simulate real driving conditions.