The government could introduce a new test.
The government may introduce a new test for drivers in their 70s. (Image: iStockphoto)
The Labour government is considering a new test for drivers over 70. Andy Burnham’s government may introduce a test on top of eyesight checks as it is exploring the idea of so-called “cognitive tests”. The Labour Party Government is considering its consultation on the Road Safety Strategy, and several policy options are being explored to improve safety outcomes for older drivers, Labour has said.
The Road Safety Strategy has confirmed: “The Government is consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70 and will develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers.
“These measures aim to reduce deaths and injuries involving older drivers, without unnecessarily restricting their mobility and personal freedom. The government will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to highlight the importance of regular police roadside eyesight tests for all drivers, ensuring that drivers who fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards required for driving have their driving licence revoked by the DVLA.
“The government will also continue to engage with the relevant regulatory bodies to highlight the importance of healthcare professionals notifying DVLA if their patient is unwilling or unable to notify.” The Department for Transport’s (DfT) latest factsheet on older drivers shows that since 2004 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties from collisions involving at least one car driver aged 70+ increased modestly from 3,082 to 3,451 in 2023. KSI casualty rates per billion miles driven increase from 18.8 for drivers aged 60–69 to 56.7 for those aged 70+, and fatal crash risk per mile rises steeply after age 80.
The International Longevity Centre said: “While certain forms of dementia may affect visual perception and cognitive ability – potentially years before diagnosis – there is even less evidence about how dementia specifically affects driving capacity.
“ILC’s Driving in later life: options for reform (2011) recommends a proportionate approach – encouraging self-declaration of relevant conditions, backed by public awareness campaigns, and introducing cognitive screening only where concerns arise, rather than blanket mandatory testing by age. This avoids stigmatising safe drivers while still identifying those genuinely at risk.”
Labour Party minister Lilian Greenwood previously said: “We know driving can be very important for older people’s wellbeing and help them to live independently, but we must also make sure everyone is safe on our roads. As the country’s older population grows, our plans in the first road safety strategy in more than a decade will preserve personal freedoms where possible with action to save lives.”