Overview
- The Department for Transport set out plans under a new Road Safety Strategy that would require older motorists to demonstrate they meet eyesight standards at renewal instead of self-declaring.
- Age UK warned the proposal could unfairly single out responsible older drivers and urged raising the renewal age to 75 if compulsory eye tests are introduced.
- Officials pointed to casualty data involving older drivers in support of the change, highlighting recent increases in deaths and serious injuries in the 70-plus age group.
- Optegra Eye Health Care in Newcastle welcomed the focus on vision checks and said cataracts commonly affect older drivers, noting surgery is available on the NHS and privately.
- The consultation runs until March 31, inviting views on the proposed switch to mandatory evidence of eyesight standards for over-70s.