Overview

• Under the reported plan, motorists aged 70 and over would need to pass an eyesight test every three years at licence renewal, with DVLA cancelling licences for those who fail.
• The strategy is also expected to lower the legal drink‑drive limit from 35 to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath and allow roadside saliva testing for drugs.
• Ministers are preparing the package for consultation, and some measures would require primary legislation before they could take effect.
• Current rules require drivers over 70 to self‑certify their fitness to drive every three years without mandatory medical or vision checks.
• Department for Transport figures cited in reports highlight a six‑year high in eyesight‑linked fatalities, a near‑50% rise since 2010 in serious or fatal crashes involving drivers over 60, and polling showing strong public support for compulsory eye tests.