Drivers over the age of 70 may face mandatory eye tests under proposed changes to Great Britain’s driving regulations.
The reforms could also include aligning England and Wales’ drink-driving limits with Scotland’s stricter laws, and penalizing seatbelt violations with points on driving licenses.
These considerations follow a coroner’s inquest into four fatal incidents involving drivers with impaired vision, which led to the UK’s licensing system being described as the “laxest in Europe.”
The potential changes are anticipated to be part of a new road safety strategy scheduled for release by the government this autumn, prompted by concerns that current safety messaging is insufficient.
“The government cannot accept 1,600 annual road deaths, with thousands more severely injured, costing the NHS over £2 billion yearly,” a government source told the BBC.
“This Labour government aims to implement the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade, enforcing stricter penalties for lawbreakers, safeguarding road users, and restoring order to our roads,” the source stated.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has expressed support for mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70.
“We need to ensure the safety of individuals driving and using our roads,” she said.
In April, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr. James Adeley submitted a report to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, advocating for preventative measures following his assessment that the enforcement of visual standards for drivers was inadequate.
Following the inquest, a source close to the transport secretary conveyed to the BBC the government’s recognition that the rules “need to be reassessed.”
The UK is among a small number of European nations that rely on self-reporting of visual impairments affecting driving ability.
The transport secretary is preparing to introduce a new requirement that would mandate eye tests for individuals over 70 when renewing their driving licenses every three years.
However, Peter Browne, 73, from Great Yarmouth, shared with the BBC his difficulty in securing an eye examination appointment.
He stated he has glaucoma and has informed the DVLA, but has not ceased driving.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “If my eyesight is deemed insufficient for driving, would it be my fault or the NHS’s for the appointment unavailability?”
AA president Edmund King defended drivers over 70, characterizing them as “still relatively safe,” while acknowledging that mandatory eye tests were “a small price to pay” for safety.
“Road deaths peak among young, new drivers and older drivers, particularly those over 80 and 85,” he noted on BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Citing statistics from road safety charity Brake, Mr. King added that “one in five young drivers crash in their first year” and over “1,500 young drivers are killed or seriously injured each year.”
The government is also considering potential medical tests for conditions such as dementia and more stringent drink-driving regulations.
Currently, individuals diagnosed with dementia are required to self-report their condition to the DVLA, which then makes a determination based on medical records and a questionnaire.
According to plans initially reported in the Times, the drink-drive limit is expected to be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 milliliters of breath to 22 micrograms.
This would align with the limits already in place in Scotland, which were lowered in December 2014 following an independent review of Drink and Drug Driving Law.
Despite the lower limit, joint research from the University of Bath and University of Essex indicated that it “had no impact on any type of road accident, from fatal crashes to collisions.” The study did, however, observe a greater anti-drink driving sentiment among the public.
Other proposals from the government include allowing police to use roadside saliva tests for evidence of drug-driving, rather than blood tests, to facilitate easier prosecution of suspects.
Depending on the specific policy areas and devolution agreements in place, these changes, if enacted, could apply to all of Great Britain, or only to England and Wales, or solely to England.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones told BBC Breakfast that these are the most significant changes to the UK’s driving laws “for decades,” but emphasized that the proposed changes are part of an ongoing consultation process.
She also reiterated that the government is not considering the introduction of graduated licenses for young drivers—a measure advocated by many bereaved parents—stating that it could potentially “over-target younger drivers and unfairly discriminate against them.”
The government “will keep everything under review,” she added.
Earlier this year, coroner Dr. Adeley criticized the current system for enforcing visual legal standards as “ineffective, unsafe, and unfit” for societal needs.
He made these remarks during the inquests of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75, at Preston Coroner’s Court—all of whom were killed by drivers with impaired eyesight.
Current regulations require individuals over 70 to renew their driving licenses and update their photographs every three years.
During renewal, the government mandates that individuals inform the DVLA of any vision problems—excluding short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or color blindness.
Rob Heard, founder of the Older Drivers Forum and a former roads policing officer, stated that he had attended over 300 fatalities during his career and had witnessed the extensive impact of these incidents.
“All of the new recommendations are positive,” he said, adding his support for “compulsory eyesight testing for all ages.”
Kay Hine, 75, in Perthshire, a former optician, concurs that everyone, regardless of age, should ensure their eyesight meets the required standards for driving.
“It’s imperative that people prove they can see,” she stated.
“Every driver should hold a ‘proof of eyesight standard’ or ‘vision fitness to drive’ certificate from a recent eye examination, as is the practice in most European countries.”
Additional reporting by Rozina Sini.
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