New UK road safety proposals could force over‑70s to pass regular eye tests

New UK road safety proposals could introduce mandatory eye tests every three years for drivers over the age of 70. 

The UK government has announced a major shake-up of driving laws in the country. 

Amongst the proposals is compulsory eye tests for drivers 70 and over, with a potential ban if they fail. 

Ministers say the new stricter measures are designed to help tackle road deaths and injuries.

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie 

Several new UK road safety proposals have been announced

Under current rules, drivers must renew their license every three years once they turn 70. 

The renewal is free and doesn’t require motorists to retake their test. 

There is also no mandatory eye test, with drivers expected to self-report any problems. 

The UK is one of only three countries in Europe that rely on self-reporting. 

But that could all be set to be changed if new UK road safety proposals are introduced. 

One of the measures proposed would see drivers over 70 having to take an eye test every three years and potentially losing their license if they fail. 

According to The Times, which first reported the proposals, the number of drivers over 60 involved in collisions where someone has been killed or seriously injured has increased by 47 percent since 2010.  

“It cannot be right that we’ve ended up in a situation where the NHS is hit with a £2 billion a year bill because we are not taking road safety seriously enough – particularly as we get older and the quality of our eye health deteriorates, that we’re not keeping a regular check,” Transport Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News.

What other measures are being considered?

Streeting said the government was ‘considering a whole range of proposals’ that will reportedly be officially unveiled in the autumn.

Alongside the mandatory eye test for over 70, officials are also considering lowering the drink driving limit in England and Wales from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath to 22 micrograms; penalty points for people driving without a seatbelt; and more severe penalties for those who drive uninsured. 

“In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2 billion per year,” a government source told the BBC. The post New UK road safety proposals could force over‑70s to pass regular eye tests appeared first on Supercar Blondie.