Labour has suggested they are “open to considering” new rules around eyesight checks for older drivers. Under current rules, elderly individuals are not required to undergo any mandatory eyesight tests to renew their licence past the age of 70.
Individuals have to simply self-report any eyesight issues to the DVLA with no tests in place to check motorists have made the right decision. It comes just weeks after HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley suggested the UK system was “the laxest in Europe”. He made the judgement after looking into the deaths of four people all killed by motorists suffering from poor eyesight.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has since confirmed officials were looking into the recommendations and could introduce changes.
Ms Alexander said: “I know that reading that report will be very distressing for the families of the victims who were killed.
“That, of course, was a situation where the optician had suggested to (four) individuals that they needed to advise the authorities that they had a medical condition which affected their eyesight and where they shouldn’t be driving.
“And of course, that didn’t happen. So I am open to considering the evidence on this issue.”
Ms Alexander confirmed that Labour’s new road safety strategy, the first in 10 years, would be published later this year,
In his report, Dr Adeley stressed there were concerns that self-reporting eyesight conditions was not an effective way to monitor eye health.
He warned it was possible for individuals to simply make up how well they could see in a bid to retain their freedom to drive.
The new rules could force motorists to sit an eye test to prove they are safe behind the wheel before being allocated a licence for older age.
However, details on how often road users may need to sit an eye test assessment have yet to emerge.
He commented: “Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive.
“Drivers may also admit they drive but then ignore instructions not to drive and fail to notify the DVLA.”
