Could Your Licence Be at Risk? Eye Test Proposals for Older Drivers Gain Momentum

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Older drivers in the UK could soon be required to pass regular eye tests to retain their driving licences, as the government considers new measures aimed at improving road safety. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons Transport Select Committee she is “open to considering” mandatory eyesight checks for senior motorists as part of an upcoming road safety strategy.

The proposal comes after a coroner’s report linked four deaths to drivers with untreated vision problems. The report, issued by HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley, highlighted cases where opticians had advised individuals to notify authorities about eyesight conditions that made them unfit to drive, but those warnings were ignored. Dr Adeley described the UK’s current licensing system as “the laxest in Europe,” noting that drivers are not subject to mandatory skill or health checks once they have obtained their licence, regardless of age.

Currently, drivers must self-report any medical conditions affecting their fitness to drive and renew their licences every three years after turning 70, but there is no requirement for regular or mandatory eye tests. Road safety groups and insurers have increasingly called for stricter rules, such as compulsory eyesight tests at age 75 or biennial vision checks for drivers over 60.

Recent surveys indicate strong public support for more rigorous assessments, with many backing mandatory eye tests or even practical retesting for older drivers. The government is now reviewing evidence and considering whether to introduce these changes as part of its broader effort to keep UK roads among the safest in the world.