Elderly drivers older than 70 may soon be required to take a test to keep their driving licence and stay behind the wheel.
Older drivers over 70 could soon need a new test to stay on the road (Image: Getty)
Older drivers above the age of 70 could be forced to take a test every three years to keep their driving licence and stay on the road under new plans being considered by Labour. The Labour Government’s Road Safety Strategy promised to look at “introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70”, with a consultation being undertaken earlier this year. Under current rules, older drivers are not required to undertake a formal eye exam to renew their driving licence, but this could be about to change.
As part of the consultation, the Department for Transport explained that tests were now being considered, with the frequency of the checks set to be every three years. This would match up with the current licence renewal dates, with over 70s forced to update their photocard every 36 months. It doesn’t end there, with the DfT suggesting that road users may undergo more frequent testing as they age.
The DfT previously said: “Areas being explored include conducting eyesight tests every 3 years for drivers over 70 in line with current licence renewal, or increasing the frequency as drivers reach higher age thresholds, for example, 75, 80, 85, etc. The prevalence of eye conditions and the rate of visual decline can accelerate as people get older. Consideration will be given to the timing alignment of the eyesight test and the licence renewal period.”
The final conclusions of the consultation have yet to be released, although many experts have backed the idea. The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) called on officials to go even further and make vision testing a mandatory part of all renewals.
Eyesight checks every three years could soon be introduced (Image: Getty)
They campaigners said that evidence of a valid sight test should be required at the application or renewal stage of all drivers every 10 years and then every three years from the age of 70. Last year, coroner Dr James Adeley described the current licensing system as the “laxest in Europe”, prompting the DfT to take a look into the issue.
The DfT previously added: “Regular eyesight tests not only help ensure drivers meet the vision standards but also play a vital role in helping to detect various other medical conditions and eye diseases at an early stage.
“Early detection allows for timely treatment, which can lead to better health outcomes and help older drivers stay on the road safely, for longer, than if left undetected and untreated.”