Rahul Somvanshi
In a significant move for road safety, the government is preparing what media outlets describe as the most substantial changes to UK driving laws since the 2006 Road Safety Act. The upcoming proposals target two key areas: mandatory eye tests for older drivers and a lower drink-drive limit, aiming to reduce the persistent safety concerns on UK roads, where according to Department for Transport provisional data, one person is killed or seriously injured approximately every 18 minutes.
What’s Being Proposed?
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is reportedly preparing a comprehensive road safety strategy, expected this autumn, that includes several potentially life-saving measures:
- Compulsory eye tests for over-70s: Drivers aged 70+ would need to pass an eye test every three years when renewing their license. Those failing may be deemed unfit to drive and could lose their license.
- Lower drink-drive limit: The alcohol limit in England and Wales could drop to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath (down from the current 35), matching Scotland’s stricter standards in place since December 2014.
- Tougher penalties: New measures may include penalty points for not wearing seatbelts and greater powers for police to prosecute drug-drivers using roadside saliva tests instead of blood tests.
Why Now? The Coroner’s Warning
The push for change follows a damning assessment from Dr. James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire. After investigating the deaths of four pedestrians killed by drivers with seriously impaired vision, Dr. Adeley declared the UK’s current system for ensuring driver eyesight standards “ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society.”
In his report to the Transport Secretary, Dr. Adeley described Britain’s licensing system as the “laxest in Europe,” highlighting that the UK is one of only three European countries relying on drivers to self-report vision problems. Dr. Adeley also pointed out that the UK performs an eyesight check at the driving test but has no routine re-testing for Group 1 drivers until age 70.
The four victims in Dr. Adeley’s inquest – Mary Frances Cunningham (79), Grace Foulds (85), Peter Westwell (80), and Anne Ferguson (75) – were all killed by drivers whose eyesight was found to be below legal standards and who continued to drive despite being advised not to.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The Department for Transport reports sobering statistics:
- 1,633 people died on Great Britain’s roads in 2024 (provisional data)
- 29,537 were killed or seriously injured (KSI, provisional data)
- Road crashes cost the NHS and wider society billions annually, with direct medical and ambulance costs estimated at around £2 billion
- Department for Transport figures show that drivers aged 75 and older have substantially higher fatality and injury rates per mile driven compared to middle-aged drivers
- Drink-driving deaths hit a 13-year high in 2022, with approximately 300 fatalities (highest since 2009)
Current Rules vs. Proposed Changes
Eyesight Standards
Currently: Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away and have visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale. After passing the initial driving test, there’s no further checking of eyesight except when drivers self-declare any problems.
Proposed: Drivers over 70 would face mandatory eye tests every three years when renewing their license. Those failing may be deemed unfit to drive and could lose their license.
Drink-Drive Limit
Currently: England, Wales and Northern Ireland allow up to 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (35 micrograms per 100ml of breath) – among the highest in Europe.
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Proposed: The limit would drop to 50mg per 100ml of blood (22 micrograms per 100ml of breath), matching Scotland’s limit set in December 2014.
What the Experts Say
Road safety organizations and motoring groups have largely welcomed the proposals:
Edmund King, AA President, called the measures “much overdue” and said they would “modernise our approach to saving lives,” according to media reports. On eye tests for older drivers, King noted it’s a “small price to pay” for improved safety. However, he criticized the government for making a “major oversight” by not introducing restrictions on newly licensed drivers carrying young passengers.
Nicholas Lyes of IAM RoadSmart supported the review of eyesight requirements for older drivers, saying: “While many drivers over the age of 70 are safe and competent, health issues and confidence can have an impact on driving abilities, so it is sensible to review whether changes need to be made.”
On the drink-drive limit reduction, Lyes supported the change but emphasized the need for “significantly more backing for roads policing teams to effectively enforce new laws.”
The Reality for Older Drivers
For the approximately 6.2 million UK drivers aged over 70 (as of March 2024), these changes represent a significant shift. Currently, drivers must renew their license every three years from age 70, but only need to self-declare medical conditions and eyesight problems.
Some concerns have emerged about potential impacts:
- Access to testing: Some drivers have highlighted difficulties getting NHS eye appointments, questioning who would be liable if drivers couldn’t get tested in time.
- Rural impacts: Many elderly people in rural areas rely heavily on cars due to limited public transport options.
- Fair targeting: Some experts, including Steve Gooding of the RAC Foundation, argue eye tests should apply to all drivers, not just those over 70.
Scotland’s Example: Has it Worked?
Scotland’s 2014 move to lower the drink-drive limit offers a test case for the rest of the UK. Research findings are mixed. A study from the Institute of Alcohol Studies and University of Bath found “no statistically significant change in road accidents” following the limit change, though it did increase public sentiment against drink-driving. However, other peer-reviewed studies suggest benefits from lower limits when accompanied by proper enforcement.
Research published in the Lancet and by the University of Bath suggests that lack of enforcement, including no increase in breath tests, may explain why the legislative change alone didn’t consistently improve outcomes in all studies.
What Happens Next?
The government’s road safety strategy is expected this autumn, after which all proposals will enter a public consultation phase. If adopted, these would represent significant changes to UK driving laws.
For drivers over 70, it would mean preparation for potential eye tests at license renewal time. For all drivers, it would require greater awareness of a lower alcohol limit – making even a single drink potentially enough to put you over the legal threshold.
According to a government source quoted in The Times: “This Labour Government will deliver the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads.”
The Bottom Line
Great Britain recorded 1,633 road deaths in 2024 with 29,537 killed or seriously injured casualties (provisional data). The current system allows drivers to self-report vision problems, one of only three European countries with this approach according to the coroner’s report. The drink-drive limit in England and Wales remains at 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath, higher than Scotland’s 22 micrograms implemented in December 2014.
The proposed changes would require drivers over 70 to pass mandatory eye tests every three years when renewing their licenses. The drink-drive limit would be reduced to match Scotland’s lower threshold. Additional measures include penalty points for seatbelt non-compliance and allowing roadside saliva tests as evidence for drug-driving prosecutions.
Organizations including the AA and IAM RoadSmart have expressed support for the proposals while noting the need for increased enforcement resources. Some concerns exist regarding access to testing facilities and the focus on age-based restrictions rather than universal requirements.
The government’s road safety strategy is scheduled for publication in autumn 2025, followed by a public consultation period before any implementation.
