Over-70s could be forced to take a professional eye test every three years if they want to keep driving in the UK.
Cognitive tests for older motorists could also be considered as part of the Labour Government’s safer strategy.
The government is expected to launch a consultation on the measure as part of its road safety strategy, which is due out tomorrow, and will aim to bring down the number of road deaths and injuries.
Almost 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads in 2024, with about 24% of car drivers killed aged 70 or over, according to the Gov.uk.
The UK is one of only eight countries in the EU that do not require standardised vision assessments prior to driving licence application and renewal.
The College of Optometrists described the move as a “long-overdue step toward modernising road safety” and a “decisive break from complacency”.
The college’s president, Dr. Gillian Rudduck, noted that it would align UK standards more closely with international ones.
Association of Optometrists (AOP) Chief Executive Adam Sampson called the previous self-reporting model “one of the laxest regimes in Europe” that put lives at risk.
Those who fail to meet the required standard could be refused a licence renewal and legally prevented from driving.
The proposed change forms part of a broader review of road safety laws aimed at reducing accidents and improving standards across the UK’s roads.
The announcement follows a 2025 report by HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, Dr. James Adeley, which found the existing self-reporting system “ineffective and unsafe” after multiple fatal accidents involving drivers with severely defective eyesight.
