The Government is preparing what Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones calls the "biggest shake-up to our driving laws for decades" with sweeping reforms set to be unveiled this autumn. The comprehensive changes will target multiple areas of road safety after existing campaigns failed to deliver results.
Mandatory eye examinations for drivers aged over 70 every three years form the centerpiece of the proposed reforms. Those failing the tests could face driving bans under the new rules. The UK currently stands as one of only three European countries still relying on drivers to self-report vision problems.
Tragic case drives reform push
The push for reform follows a Prevention of Future Deaths report from Lancashire's senior coroner Dr James Adeley, submitted after four fatalities involving motorists with impaired vision. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander indicated in April her willingness to consider mandating eye tests for older drivers following this report.
Rosemary McAndrew, 64, died from chest injuries on 5 July last year after being struck by a car "reversing at speed" in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The vehicle was operated by an 89-year-old man whom paramedics suspected "may have had a neurological event" whilst driving.
During the two years before the crash, the man's mobility had deteriorated, he had reported back and leg pain to his GP, and attended A&E in October 2023 with symptoms believed to suggest a mini stroke. He died from dementia and gangrene eight months after the collision.
Comprehensive reform package
The reforms extend far beyond eye tests, with authorities examining proposals to reduce the drink-drive limit in England and Wales from 35 to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to match Scotland's stricter standard. The current limit has remained unchanged since 1967.
Motorists driving without insurance could face more severe consequences under the new rules, along with those refusing to wear seatbelts. Police may also be allowed to pursue drug-driving charges based on roadside saliva testing rather than blood samples.
Urgent statistics drive action
Road deaths reached 1,633 people last year with almost 28,000 suffering serious injuries in traffic collisions. Deaths from drink-driving cases have risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022.
A Government source told the BBC that 1,600 annual road deaths cost the NHS more than £2 billion per year. "In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured," the source said.
Expert and political backing
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade." However, King is calling for the Government to go further with restrictions on new drivers under 21.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, highlighted that in 2023 there were almost 100 serious injuries or fatalities caused by defective eyesight. "These tragedies are avoidable," he said, adding that most older drivers support the proposals.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has voiced backing for compulsory eye examinations for motorists aged over 70. "I think we need to make sure that people driving on our roads and using our streets are safe," she said.
Debate over fairness and alternatives
Some voices question the fairness of targeting over-70s specifically, suggesting universal testing might be more appropriate. International models from countries like Greece and the Philippines require periodic medical checks for all drivers regardless of age, offering alternative approaches to the UK's proposed age-based system.
Sources used: "WalesOnline", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
