Drivers in the United Kingdom aged over 70 could be banned from the roads if they fail compulsory eye tests, under proposals forming part of the most significant overhaul of driving rules in nearly two decades. The plans also include lowering the legal drink-drive limit and introducing tougher penalties for seatbelt and insurance offences.
The measures are expected to be outlined in a new road safety strategy to be published in the autumn, with the government citing an urgent need to address rising accident rates involving older drivers and impaired motorists. Officials say the reforms aim to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, which remain persistently high.
Mandatory Testing for Elderly Motorists
Under the proposals, drivers aged over 70 would be required to pass a mandatory eye test every three years when reapplying for their licence. According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road collision triples after the age of 75. Official figures also show that since 2010, the number of drivers over 60 involved in crashes resulting in death or serious injury has risen by nearly 50%.
The move follows a coroner’s report into the deaths of four people in road incidents linked to poor eyesight, which described the UK’s self-reporting system for vision as the “laxest” in Europe. In addition to eye tests, elderly drivers may also face medical checks for conditions such as dementia to ensure they are fit to drive.
DfT data from last year recorded 1,633 deaths from road traffic accidents and 28,000 people seriously injured. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is understood to be leading the initiative, with the changes requiring a mix of secondary and primary legislation.
Broader Crackdown on Road Safety Violations
The government’s strategy extends beyond elderly driver assessments. According to the proposals, the drink-drive limit could be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22 micrograms, bringing the UK closer to limits in countries such as Scotland. Police may also be granted powers to conduct saliva tests at the roadside to detect drug use, replacing the need for blood samples.
Figures indicate a 78% increase in road deaths involving drivers with drugs in their systems. Other planned measures include issuing penalty points to passengers who refuse to wear seatbelts, strengthening penalties for uninsured drivers, and tackling “ghost plates” that evade number-plate recognition cameras.
A government source told The Times that one person is killed or seriously injured on UK roads every 18 minutes, calling the situation unacceptable. Edmund King, president of the AA, said the reforms were “long overdue” and noted that similar measures abroad had cut deaths and serious injuries by up to 40%.
