Motorists over 70 could be banned from the roads if they fail compulsory eye tests under a radical shake-up of driving laws in England and Wales. Plans also include reducing the drink-driving limit in both countries to be in line with Scotland’s laws, and giving people points on their licence for not wearing a seatbelt. The move comes after an inquest into four deaths caused by drivers with failing eyesight saw a coroner call the UK’s licensing system the “laxest in Europe”. The changes are expected to be included in a new road safety strategy set to be published by the government in the autumn, with ministers believing that the current safety messaging is not working.
A government source told the BBC that the current system is “ineffective” and that 1,600 people dying on the roads each year is “unacceptable”. The source also stated that the government will deliver the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to the roads.
In April, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, criticised the current system for enforcing visual legal standards as “ineffective, unsafe and unfit” to meet the needs of society. He made the remarks at the inquests of four people who were killed by pensioners.
The UK is one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of visual conditions affecting the ability to drive. Now, a new requirement being prepared by the transport secretary could make eye tests for the over-70s compulsory when they renew their driving licence every three years.
Other proposals include police being allowed to rely on roadside saliva tests for evidence of drug-driving rather than blood tests, making it easier to prosecute suspects. Justice minister, Alex Davies-Jones, told BBC Breakfast that this was the biggest shake up to the UK’s driving laws “for decades”, but stressed that the proposed changes remain part of a consultation process.
Current rules mean everyone aged over 70 must renew their driving licence, and update their photograph, every three years. When you renew, the government says you must tell the DVLA if you have a problem with your eyesight – although this does not include being short-sighted, long-sighted or colour blind.
Rob Heard, founder of Older Drivers Forum and an ex-roads policing officer, said he had attended over 300 fatalities in his career and had witnessed first-hand the ripple-effect these accidents have on so many people. He supports “compulsory eye sight testing for all ages.” Kay Hine, 75, in Perthshire used to have an opticians practice and agrees that everyone, regardless of age, should ensure their eyesight is at the right standard for driving.
The proposals have been met with a mix of reactions, with some supporting the changes and others expressing concerns about the practicality of implementing them. The government “will keep everything under review”, according to Justice minister, Alex Davies-Jones.
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