Overview

• Recent DVLA figures show crashes involving drivers over 70 have reached a six-year high, with poor vision cited as a key factor.
• Under current rules, over-70 drivers self-renew licences every three years via questionnaire and risk fines up to £1,000 if they fail to meet vision or medical declaration requirements.
• Surveys reveal generational divides on retesting, with 79% of millennials in favour of mandatory tests compared to just 33% of seniors.
• The proposed cross-party bill would mandate GP or specialist assessments of cognitive and physical fitness during licence renewals for drivers aged 70 and above.
• Car insurance experts warn that premiums rise steeply after the mid-70s due to higher accident rates and more severe injuries among older motorists.