Over-70s face driving ban for failing eye tests
Motorists over the age of 70 could be barred from driving if they fail compulsory eye examinations under a radical reform of driving rules in the United Kingdom. Other proposals include lowering the drink-driving limit in both England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland’s rules, as well as issuing penalty points to those caught not wearing a seatbelt.
The move follows an inquiry into four deaths caused by drivers with impaired eyesight, in which a coroner described the UK’s licensing system as the “laxest in Europe.” The changes are expected to be included in a new road safety plan, due to be unveiled by the government in the autumn, with ministers expressing concern that current safety messages are failing to have the desired impact.
“In no other situation would we accept 1,600 deaths on the roads each year, with thousands more critically injured, costing the NHS more than £2 billion annually,” a government source told the BBC.
“This Labour government will produce the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade,” the source added.
They also stated that the government would introduce tougher measures for those breaking the rules, with the aim of protecting road users and restoring order on the roads. After ruling that the enforcement of legal visual requirements for drivers was inadequate, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, wrote to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in April, urging further steps to prevent future deaths. Following the inquest, a source close to the transport secretary told the BBC that the laws must be reassessed.
The United Kingdom is one of only three European countries that relies on drivers to self-report visual impairments affecting their ability to drive. Under the new proposals, drivers over 70 may be required to undergo a mandatory eye test when renewing their licence every three years.
However, Peter Browne, 73, of Great Yarmouth, told the BBC he had tried to get his eyes tested but was unable to find an available appointment. He has glaucoma and has informed the DVLA, but has not stopped driving. “I’m quite frustrated,” he said. “If it turned out that my eyesight was not up to standard, would it be my fault, or the NHS’s fault for not being able to get me in for a test?”
Edmund King, president of the AA, defended drivers over 70, saying they are generally safe, but admitted that a mandatory eye examination was a small price to pay for road safety.
“When you look at road deaths, the biggest peaks are among young, inexperienced drivers, and then again among older drivers — but that usually means those over 80 or 85,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Citing figures from the road safety charity Brake, he noted that “one in five young drivers has a crash in their first year, and over 1,500 young drivers are killed or injured annually.”
Drink-driving limit
The government is also reviewing potential medical checks for conditions such as dementia, along with tighter drink-driving rules. Those diagnosed with dementia are currently required to report their condition to the DVLA, which makes a decision based on medical records and a questionnaire.
The drink-drive limit is expected to be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22 micrograms, matching Scotland’s limit, which was introduced in December 2014. The change, first reported by The Times, follows an independent review of drink and drug driving. While the Institute of Alcohol Studies found that the lower limit in Scotland had no measurable impact on accident rates, it did help foster a stronger anti-drink-driving culture.
According to government figures published late last year, there has been a significant rise in alcohol-related road deaths in England over the past four years. Other measures under consideration include allowing police to rely on roadside saliva tests for drugs, rather than blood tests, to speed up prosecutions. Depending on devolved powers and local agreements, these changes may apply to all of Great Britain, only England and Wales, or just England.
Alex Davies-Jones, the government’s lead on law reform, told BBC Breakfast that this was “the biggest shake-up of the UK’s driving rules in decades,” but emphasised that the proposals were still under consultation. She added that ministers were not considering the introduction of graduated licences for young drivers — something many bereaved parents have campaigned for — saying it could unfairly target younger drivers. “We will keep everything under review,” she said.
‘Ineffective, unsafe and unfit’
Earlier this year, Dr Adeley criticised the existing system for enforcing medical eyesight standards, calling it “ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet society’s needs.” He made the remarks at Preston Coroner’s Court during inquests into the deaths of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 85, and Anne Ferguson, 75 — all killed by elderly motorists.
Under current regulations, anyone over 70 must renew their driving licence, and update their photograph, every three years. Applicants are required to inform the DVLA if they have any eyesight problems — although short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and colour blindness are not included in the definition.
Rob Heard, founder of the Older Drivers Forum and a former roads police officer, said he had attended more than 300 fatalities during his career and had seen firsthand the devastating ripple effect such tragedies have on communities.
“All the latest recommendations are positive,” he said, adding that he supports compulsory eyesight tests for drivers of all ages.
Kay Hine, 75, from Perthshire, who used to run an optician’s workshop, agreed: “Everyone, regardless of age, should have their eyesight checked to ensure their driving meets the required standard. It’s vital that people can prove they meet the vision requirements to drive.”
She added: “Every driver should have a ‘proof of eyesight standard’ or ‘vision fitness to drive’ certificate from a recent eye test, as is the case in most European countries.”
