Ministers are considering plans to introduce mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70, with those who fail effectively banned from the roads. The potential measure was set out in the Department for Transport's (DfT) Road Safety Strategy published at the start of the year.
Background and Current Rules
In 2023, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) launched a call for evidence to evaluate whether existing legislation for deciding if a person is medically fit to drive is effective enough. The DfT is currently reviewing this, with ministers considering bringing in mandatory eye tests for older drivers.
Current DVLA rules require people to renew their licence once they reach 70, declaring that their eyesight and health meet requirements. They are obliged to do this every three years after turning 70. However, current rules do not require motorists to complete mandatory checks of their skills or health once they have a driving licence, regardless of age.
Proposed Measures
The government is also consulting on developing options for cognitive testing for older drivers as part of a push to reduce deaths and injuries on Britain's roads, "without unnecessarily restricting their mobility and personal freedom."
In its Road Safety Report, the DfT said: "To improve safety outcomes for older drivers and others on the road, several policy options are being explored. The government is consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70 and will develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers. These measures aim to reduce deaths and injuries involving older drivers, without unnecessarily restricting their mobility and personal freedom."
The DfT added: "The government will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs' Council to highlight the importance of regular police roadside eyesight tests for all drivers, ensuring that those drivers who fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards required for driving will have their driving licence revoked by DVLA. The government will also continue to engage with the relevant regulatory bodies to highlight the importance of healthcare professionals notifying DVLA if their patient is unwilling or unable to notify."
Impact and Statistics
Should mandatory eyesight tests become law, drivers over 70 would have to take a test to continue driving, with further tests at each three-year renewal. Those failing to meet minimum eyesight standards would face having their licence revoked by the DVLA, effectively banning them from roads.
The strategy aims to drastically reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035, and by 70% for children under 16. Around 24% of all car drivers killed in 2024 were 70 or older, while 12% of all casualties in car collisions involved older drivers.
