Overview

• Under the proposal, motorists aged 70 and over would undergo an eyesight check every three years, with optometrists reporting results directly to the DVLA and failed tests risking licence revocation.
• The vision screening plan sits within a wider road‑safety package under development that includes a possible lower drink‑drive limit and tougher penalties for seatbelt and uninsured‑driving offences.
• Officials expect to set out proposals this autumn and the Department for Transport says changes would follow a formal consultation and legislation, with the DVLA confirming there is no immediate rule change.
• At present, over‑70s renew their licence via self‑declaration every three years, a system that leaves the UK among a small number of European countries without routine medical checks for older drivers.
• Ministers point to stubborn casualty figures and NHS costs, with interest in tougher eyesight checks heightened by inquests into crashes linked to poor vision, while experts and commentators debate age‑based screening versus targeted medical assessments.