Older drivers: what are the rules now?
Following the announcement for eyesight tests for older drivers, we find out what the changes could mean for you – and what the rules are now
Image credit: GettyImages
Following the announcement for eyesight tests for older drivers, we find out what the changes could mean for you – and what the rules are now
Earlier this month, the government announced proposals that could require older drivers to take an eye test every three years, with the first being carried out when they turn 70 and have to renew their driving licence.
The move is part of a radical shake up of driving laws, with the first Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade due to be unveiled in the autumn.
The announcement has left many older drivers asking what exactly this will mean for them.
We’ve studied the proposals and reviewed the current rules.
Dr James Adeley, the senior coroner for Lancashire, is said to have prompted the proposals. In April he sent a report to Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, highlighting what he feels are failings in the way we licence older drivers.
The report came after three inquests into the death of four people in a two-year period, saying, "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car.”
Dr Adeley says that the UK’s regulations are the “laxest in Europe” and “ineffective and unsafe”, and while all three drivers were jailed, the new law aims to prevent tragedies like this ever happening again.
The solicitor representing the three families, Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, explained the problem: "We presently have a system under which the DVLA relies upon drivers to self-report, hand over their licence and stop driving when they've been told by a qualified healthcare professional that their eyesight is not to the required standard. This inquest has shown that simply doesn't happen."
Rob Heard, chairman of the Older Drivers' Forum, is a former police officer who attended more than 300 fatal traffic incidents in his career, many of them caused by older drivers with poor sight. His experience led to him being called as an expert witness during these inquests.
He acknowledges that while the majority of older drivers take their responsibilities seriously and wouldn’t dream of driving if they knew their sight wasn’t up to scratch, “for a minority, a mandatory test is the only answer, something I’ve been pushing for since 2021”.
And it’s not just a question of dishonesty and selfishness, because many drivers simply don’t realise their eyesight isn’t up to the required standard.
Police forces conducted a series of voluntary roadside eyesight tests in 2024, and the Older Drivers’ Forum reports that 10.2% of drivers aged between 81 and 90 failed the test.
Currently, The DVLA says that drivers must be able to:
Dr Adeley’s concerns have cross-party support, with Alex Davies-Jones, the Justice Minister, telling BBC Breakfast that the government “will keep everything under review”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she agrees with compulsory eye tests for the over-70s.
Davies-Jones stressed that the proposed changes remain part of a consultation process, but media, including Autocar magazine, report that if passed, the new legislation will mean drivers over the age of 70 will need to have their eyesight tested every three years.
Heard’s research suggests there is overwhelming support for the changes: “Of the drivers I asked, the majority of whom were over 70, 93% supported the idea of mandatory eyesight testing.”
As for the additional costs, eye tests for the over-70s are free in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Regular eye tests can also identify many other medical conditions, and if a problem is picked up early enough, it could help extend your driving career.
These are reported to include:
These are still proposals and may not pass into law and, in the meantime, you should continue to report any issues with your eyesight online.
There are currently a number of medical conditions that you must inform the DVLA about. If you don’t, you risk harming yourself and others, your car insurance may be invalid, and you may even be committing an offence. These conditions include:
The experts at Saga Insurance have more information on driving and dementia and driving with a medical condition.
If you have Saga Insurance, you don’t need to get in touch about health issues or medical conditions as long as the DVLA has not restricted or removed your licence.
Other car insurance companies may take a different view, and if you are in doubt about whether you need to declare anything, get in touch with them.
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