The UK government is preparing to introduce major changes to driving regulations aimed at improving road safety, with a key focus on drivers aged 70 and over. Under the proposed plan, older drivers will be required to pass eyesight tests every three years, with failure resulting in potential loss of their driving licence.
Currently, the UK is one of only three European countries that allow drivers to self-declare any decline in vision or health conditions affecting their ability to drive. The new proposals seek to change this by making formal eyesight checks compulsory for the over-70 age group.
The government’s push for reform comes amid stagnant progress in reducing road deaths and injuries over the last decade. In the previous year, 1,633 people died on UK roads, while nearly 28,000 suffered serious injuries, placing a substantial burden on the NHS, which incurs costs exceeding £2 billion annually.
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The eyesight test will be administered every three years, with optometrists required to report results directly to the DVLA. Those who fail to meet the minimum vision standard will face licence revocation to enhance road safety.
This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce accidents and fatalities. Other proposed measures include stricter penalties for drivers caught without seatbelts, harsher consequences for uninsured drivers, and reducing the legal blood alcohol limit from 35 micrograms to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath to align with Scotland and much of Europe.
A Labour spokesperson emphasized the urgency of these reforms, stating, “This Labour Government will deliver the first comprehensive road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties, protecting road users, and restoring order on our roads.” They continued, “Every one of these deaths is preventable. We cannot allow the same tragic statistics to persist while laws remain outdated.”
The government plans to open these proposals to public consultation later this year, underscoring the need for swift action as the UK continues to lag behind European counterparts in road safety performance.
Public opinion is invited on whether regular eyesight testing for drivers over 70 will improve road safety or if other issues should take precedence.