Older drivers could face mandatory eye tests and the drink-drive limit may be reduced as part of a major overhaul of UK road safety laws. The proposals, expected in a government strategy this autumn, aim to tackle rising road deaths and injuries.
Last year, 1,633 people were killed and nearly 28,000 seriously injured on Britain's roads. A Labour source said numbers have remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments, costing the NHS over £2bn annually.
Under plans considered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, aligning with Scotland and most of Europe. The UK is one of only three European countries relying on self-reporting of eyesight problems, prompting consideration of compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers over 70, with a driving ban for those who fail.
Other proposals include allowing police to use roadside saliva tests for drug-driving instead of blood tests, and tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and not wearing seatbelts. The strategy will be published in the autumn following consultation.
