Drivers aged over 81 are being urged to schedule appointments with opticians amid proposals for new eyesight regulations being reviewed by the government led by Andy Burnham. Campaign group GEM Motoring Assist has highlighted the importance of vision checks for elderly motorists after roadside tests revealed concerning results among pensioners.
The Labour government is considering introducing mandatory eyesight checks for drivers aged over 70 each time they renew their driving licence, which currently occurs every three years. These proposals form part of the Road Safety Strategy launched earlier this year in January.
As the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, the MP for Makerfield, will be responsible for making decisions regarding these potential reforms.
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GEM Motoring Assist emphasised the need for regular eye testing following research indicating that more than one in ten drivers aged between 81 and 90 failed a legal eyesight test during a recent UK roadside screening operation.
Data from a survey conducted as part of the Department for Transport’s consultation on testing eyesight in older drivers found that 10.2 per cent of motorists aged 81 to 90, who were stopped by police and tested, were unable to read a number plate from the legally required distance of 20 metres. Across all 3,010 drivers and riders screened during the study, 1.7 per cent did not pass the test.
The number of drivers holding full licences aged 70 and above in Great Britain has risen significantly, now exceeding 6.3 million – a 60 per cent increase since 2012, according to GEM.
James Luckhurst, head of road safety at GEM Motoring Assist, said: “Drivers require clear, reliable vision to spot pedestrians in poor light, accurately judge the speed of oncoming vehicles, and read direction signs in time to make safe decisions.
“As the population of older drivers grows, so too does the number who may need vision correction, monitoring, or treatment. This underlines the increasing importance of regular eye examinations.”