Overview

• Ministers are developing proposals that would require drivers aged 70 and over to undergo professional eyesight checks every three years, with optometrists reporting results to the DVLA and licences at risk if standards are not met.
• The measures are being shaped for an autumn road‑safety package that The Times reports is likely to include a lower drink‑drive limit and tougher penalties for uninsured or unbelted driving.
• The DVLA has reiterated that current rules still apply, with over‑70s required to renew licences every three years via self‑declaration and to meet the 20‑metre number‑plate and 6/12 visual acuity standards.
• Driving with an expired licence can invalidate insurance and lead to serious penalties, and failing to declare relevant medical conditions may attract fines up to £1,000, according to DVLA and RAC guidance cited in recent reports.
• Recent coverage notes rising collisions linked to poor vision and mixed public sentiment, including a private poll showing support for stricter assessments, while medical experts stress case‑by‑case decisions for conditions affecting vision, mobility and cognition.