Search
Home (en v512, web) - {110D559F-DEA5-42EA-9C1C-8A5DF7E70EF9}?.Prefix site search
Close Search

Policy briefing: Mandatory eyesight tests for older drivers

The AOP’s summary – and what it means for optometry

Optometrist with patient

What has been announced

On the 7 January 2026 the Government published its highly anticipated Road safety strategy.

This strategy states the aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) on roads in Great Britain. With an average of four lives lost daily in 2024, the strategy sets targets for Great Britain to cut KSIs by 2035. It commits to review policy areas such as the safety of young and novice drivers, older drivers and motorcyclists, to shape and implement evidence-led interventions. The strategy sets out a range of policies to support this aim and to improve overall road safety: supporting road users; taking advantage of technology, innovation and data for safer vehicles and post-collision care; ensuring infrastructure is safe; and robust enforcement to protect all road users. For each of these themes, policy areas, interventions and commitments are identified.

The strategy summarises the case for change, identifies road safety targets and outlines an approach to monitoring the progress made in meeting objectives.

Alongside the strategy, five consultations have been launched by the Government, including introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers.

In general terms, the strategy itself provides little detail on mandatory eyesight testing beyond the commitment to consult. The consultation, in contrast, provides a significant amount of additional detail about what is being considered. The consultation sets out an expected increase in the number of older drivers (those 70 or over) and a comparison of the process around licence renewal in other European countries.

The consultation sets out several areas for consideration under its options for change:

Age of commencement – The current consideration suggests that eyesight testing should be mandatory for those 70 and above, but states that consideration could also be given to starting at a younger age.

Testing frequency – Areas being explored suggest mandating tests every three years for drivers 70 and above as this aligns with current licence renewal points, but suggests that higher frequencies mat be appropriate as people age.

Type of test – Considerations include utilising the existing NHS sight testing service, noting that this does not include a mandated assessment of visual field, or developing a bespoke test to assess if a driver meets the required vision standard for driving. Alongside this is the consideration about how should the proof of compliance be provided, should this sit with the licence holder and should this be confirmed with whoever has conducted the test.

Test administration – Consideration is being given to who should conduct the test, with options including utilising the existing NHS sight testing service or through bespoke test centres. It is suggested that tests could be delivered by private providers, or to improve scalability, to be delivered by trained personnel outside of traditional clinical settings, it is suggested that this could reduce costs and the dependency on specialist availability.

Funding arrangements – Consideration is being given to using the existing NHS sight testing service or requiring drivers to pay separately for the test.

The full list of questions in the consultation

1. Who do you think should be responsible for notifying the DVLA when a licence holder is diagnosed with a medical condition that may affect their ability to meet the vision standards for driving?

2. Do you agree or disagree that mandatory eyesight testing should be introduced for older drivers?

3. Do you agree or disagree that 70 years is the appropriate age for mandatory eyesight testing to start?

4. In your view, how often should older drivers be required to have a mandatory eyesight test?

5. Why do you think this frequency is correct?

6. In your view, should the frequency of mandatory eyesight tests increase as drivers get older?

7. At what age, in your view, should the frequency of mandatory eyesight testing be increased?

8. Why do you think the frequency of mandatory eyesight testing should be increased at this age?

9. What, in your view, should the mandatory eyesight test cover?

  • Visual acuity (a measure of the eyes’ ability to see sharpness of vision. This is usually measured by reading letters on a chart from a set distance, with glasses or contacts if needed)
  • Visual field (this is measured using machinery which tests your central and side vision and identifies if you have vision problems)
  • Identification of a visual condition
  • Confirmation that drivers meet the legal eyesight standards for driving
  • Another test.

10. Who, in your view, should be responsible for conducting the mandatory eyesight test?

11. Who, in your view, should be responsible for notifying the DVLA of the outcome of the mandatory eyesight test?

12. Outside of any potential mandatory eyesight testing requirements, who do you think should be responsible for notifying the DVLA when a licence holder may no longer meet the vision standards for driving?

13. Do you have any further comments?

What do we say

We are pleased to see the Government take steps to make UK roads safer. Since 2017 our Don’t swerve a sight test campaign has advocated for compulsory eye tests at licence renewal. As members will expect, we will be responding to the consultation and working with sector partners to ensure that the Government receives a clear and consistent message.

The consultation overlaps in many areas with our five joint policy principles produced with The College of Optometrists.

Many of the questions in the consultation raise complex scenarios that will require careful consideration. Our initial thoughts are as follows.

Age of commencement – we believe that the proposal is a positive step, but as we have previously set out, we believe the sight test should be for all drivers at initial application, at every renewal (every 10 years and then every three years from age 70, to align with age-related eye conditions and deterioration in visual function). Good vision is important for all drivers, and we believe that there is an opportunity for the reforms to go further. A crucial part of this process should centre around raising public awareness that regular examinations help to ensure patients can continue to drive safely, rather than being seen as a method to prevent them from doing so. If all drivers are equally expected to demonstrate they have sufficient vision beginning at licence application and in an ongoing manner, then rather than being associated with being older, it should become a normal part of the process of holding and renewing a licence.

Type of test and test administration – As set out in our joint policy with The College, we say a sight test is needed that includes a vision assessment and eye health examination for all drivers at initial application, at every renewal (every 10 years and then every three years from age 70, to align with age-related eye conditions and deterioration in visual function).

We say this because the sight test:

  • Is a regulated function delivered by registered optometrists predominantly through community optometry practices on the High Street which is accessible and consistent across the UK
  • Ensures that the Snellen visual acuity standard for driving is assessed accurately and objectively in standardised conditions.

As such, we say the test must be delivered via the appropriate professionals, and should utilise the highly trained optometry workforce. If a member of the public fails to meet the standard, this approach ensures they are given advice on why they have failed and how they may be able to remedy this.

Consider a patient with cataracts who fails to meet the visual acuity standard. As our members know, there is a strong likelihood that following cataract surgery the patient will be able to resume driving. Optometrists are well placed to explain this process to patients and to provide reassurance about the condition and next steps.

Alongside this there is a risk that if a non-healthcare professional solution is chosen especially one that sits outside of optometry, that patients with emerging eye disease may go undiagnosed and that some patients may “pass” a standalone test and therefore believe it is safe to defer their sight test or eye examination. The potential false reassurance could have a negative impact on the eye health of the UK population, increasing the risk of avoidable sight loss and increasing NHS costs via more complex, late-stage interventions and higher social care costs. Eye examination by a trained clinical professional is more than simply how well someone can see, it is about detecting disease and ensuring they maintain good eye health for as long as possible.

Funding – The NHS sight test fee in England is chronically underfunded with a tacit  acceptance from the NHS that the service is cross subsidised by the sale of spectacles. The current NHS sight test fee does not cover the cost of delivering sight test falling short by over twenty pounds. It therefore seems unlikely that the current NHS sight testing service will be an appropriate funding mechanism for these tests.

It is likely that there will be an additional administrative burden created by the need to complete reports or upload information. Even if patients submit the evidence, there will be a need for optometrists to ensure vital information is accurately recorded and this must be funded, as must any additional tests that are required beyond a normal sight test. We also have concerns that any attempt to utilise the NHS sight testing service, without additional funding being made available, may have a negative impact on much needed increases to the sight test fee.

All too often, when services are designed, cost, rather than value, becomes the predominant concern. In our view this service should focus on ensuring that the public receive a high-quality service that is set up to succeed, not simply the cheapest service destined to fail.

What next

The Government consultation runs for 12 weeks.

Along with The College of Optometrists, we will jointly review the detail of the Government consultation and will respond. Both organisations will be consulting with members as part of the process.

More policy briefings

Chosen for you