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The government believes that the age-related loss of vision is becoming a major cause of road accidents and the current system is proving to be ineffective in saving people’s lives.
The government is preparing to make major changes regarding road safety in Britain. In fact, according to a new proposal in Britain, an eye test may be mandatory for drivers aged 70 and over when renewing their driving licence. Such drivers may be banned from driving if they do not take the test on time or fail the test. Regarding this, the government believes that the weakening of eyesight with increasing age is becoming a major cause of road accidents and the current system is proving to be unsuccessful in saving people’s lives. This is the reason why the British government can make eye tests mandatory for drivers aged 70 years and above.
At present, in Britain, after the age of 70, the driving license has to be renewed every three years. Currently the system is based entirely on self-reporting, which means that the driver has to tell himself whether his vision is suitable for driving or not. In the new arrangement, the government is considering adding a mandatory eye test every three years to license renewal. If a driver does not undergo an eye test, his license can be revoked.
According to UK government figures, 24 per cent of all drivers killed in road accidents in 2024 were aged 70 or over. While 12 percent of the total car accident victims included elderly drivers. Based on these data, the government says that it has become necessary to take strict steps for road safety. Britain is among the few European countries to have a self-reporting eye disease driving system in place.
According to statistics from optometrists, 56 percent of optometrists saw patients in the past month who were driving despite having less than legal vision. While 26 percent of people know someone who is visually impaired and still drives. Apart from this, relatives of 14 percent people are openly breaking the rules. In many cases it was also revealed that the drivers had already been declared unfit to drive, yet they did not stop driving. In some cases the drivers did not report their eye disease to the concerned department.
Driving license in India also requires following several rules. A driving license in India requires a person to be physically and mentally fit to drive. As per the rules, a mandatory medical certificate is required for applicants above 50 years of age in India and there is a provision of severe punishment for driving a vehicle without a valid license.
Jan 07, 2026 10:22 AM IST
The age is such that you have to do an eye test in any case, otherwise the government will not allow you to drive
