Earlier in the year, the government announced it would be introducing a new Road Safety Strategy, which would likely include mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70 and failure to pass this test would result in a driving ban.
Although nothing has been confirmed since the initial announcement, it is likely this new regulation will be brought in alongside stricter laws for drink driving, a tougher stance on seatbelt wearing and uninsured drivers.
All measures, including the ones around sight testing, are to ensure the roads are even safer for all UK drivers.
How will the new regulation for over-70’s work?
Currently, drivers over 70 must renew their driving licence every three years, making the DVLA aware of any sight changes that have occured during this period. If the new Road Safety Strategy does include these changes, it would mean that any drivers over 70 will have to partake in an eye test every three years in order to get behind the wheel. Failure to pass the test will mean their licence will not be renewed by the DVLA.
Is the new regulation likely to come into force in 2026?
While there is no set date when this new system could be introduced, many believe the changes will occur before the end of 2026, so watch this space. The potential switch-up has been backed by organisations like the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists, who say “the UK is one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of visual conditions that affect a person’s ability to drive,” and believe these new changes could reduce the number of deaths on the road.
However, Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “It is certainly good for our eye health as we age to have a regular eye test – every two years, the NHS advises – but this doesn’t automatically mean that a compulsory eye test at age 70 is appropriate. People can develop eye problems at any age, so why confine such an approach only to those aged 70 and not to younger drivers too? A regular eye test for drivers of all ages may be a better idea, one less open to the accusation of ageism – but we would need to see all the evidence to form a final view.”