Upcoming Changes for Senior Motorists
Drivers aged 75 and older may soon encounter updated regulations in 2026 aimed at enhancing road safety through mandatory eyesight assessments. Leading experts and advocacy groups are pushing for adjustments to the government’s proposed framework, which currently targets individuals over 70.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is advancing plans for compulsory vision tests as part of license renewal processes for those above 70. These measures form part of an ongoing public consultation, with participants encouraged to provide input on the potential impacts.
Advocacy for a Higher Age Threshold
Age UK, a prominent charity supporting older adults, urges raising the mandatory testing age to 75. Representatives argue this adjustment would create a fairer policy that aligns with current evidence on aging and vehicle safety.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, emphasized the need for balance. She stated: “When a previous Department of Transport supported Older Drivers Taskforce looked at these issues in detail, they also recommended a move away from self-certification, but they coupled it with a proposal to raise the age at which you have to renew your licence to age 75.”
Abrahams highlighted historical context, noting: “They took this view on the basis of the evidence, pointing out that the age of 70 was chosen quite arbitrarily in 1971 when life expectancy was 68 for men and 72 for women. Both have of course since increased quite substantially and vehicles are also safer than they were all those years ago.”
She added: “Age UK believes that requiring evidence from an eye test, together with raising the age at which this is required to age 75, would be a balanced, evidence based approach, but to do the first without the second feels disproportionately negative so far as older drivers are concerned, the overwhelming majority of whom take very seriously their responsibility to be safe on the road.”
Details of the Proposed Tests
Under the DfT’s initiative, motorists over 70 would need to provide proof of recent eyesight examinations to renew their driving licenses. Officials note that vision decline often progresses slowly, potentially going unnoticed by individuals until it affects driving ability.
The consultation period extends until March 31, 2026, after which the DfT plans to finalize and implement any revisions to the rules.
