New DVLA rules mean drivers face 'biggest change in decades'
As safety on the UK's roads and motorways continues to remain an issue, the government is expected to introduce some significant changes to the rules for motorists
UK drivers are set for some big changes
(Image: Getty Images)
Elderly motorists may face compulsory eye examinations, whilst the drink-drive threshold could be reduced as part of sweeping changes to driving regulations. Rising numbers of deaths and severe injuries on Britain's roads have sparked mounting alarm.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander indicated in April her willingness to consider mandating eye tests for older drivers to retain their licences. The proposal stems from a Prevention of Future Deaths report submitted to the Transport Secretary by Lancashire's senior coroner, Dr James Adeley, following four fatalities involving motorists with impaired vision.
Dr Adeley warned that additional deaths may result from elderly drivers with "compromised" capabilities, after an incident where a woman was struck and pinned beneath a vehicle operated by an 89 year old man in a Waitrose car park. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
Rosemary McAndrew, 64, succumbed to chest injuries on 5 July last year after being hit by a car "reversing at speed" as she walked near a shop in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
The car was operated by an elderly man whom paramedics suspected "may have had a neurological event" whilst driving, reports the Mirror. During the two years before the crash, the man's mobility had deteriorated, he had reported back and leg pain to his GP, and attended A&E in October 2023 with symptoms believed to suggest a mini stroke.
He passed away from dementia and gangrene in both feet eight months following the collision. Ministers are poised to unveil sweeping changes to driving legislation this autumn, after concluding that existing safety campaigns have failed to deliver results, reports Cornwall Live.
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Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones has branded the proposals as the "biggest shake-up to our driving laws for decades".
Under the comprehensive reforms, motorists aged over 70 may face mandatory eye examinations every three years to retain their driving privileges, with those failing the test facing potential bans. The UK stands as one of only three European countries still relying on drivers to self-report vision problems that could impair their ability behind the wheel.
Additional changes under consideration include:.
Reduced drink-drive threshold
Authorities are examining proposals to cut the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland's stricter standard - reducing from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms.
Government officials emphasise that determining the exact number of drinks this represents is impossible, given that alcohol impacts people differently depending on variables such as body weight, sex, and age. The current legal drink-drive limit has remained unchanged since its introduction in 1967.
On Britain's roads last year, 1,633 people died and almost 28,000 suffered serious injuries in traffic collisions, with statistics remaining relatively steady following a substantial drop between 2000 and 2010. Meanwhile, deaths from drink-driving cases have risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022 and sparking fears that existing road safety measures are losing their effectiveness.
Tougher penalties for uninsured drivers Motorists driving without insurance could face more severe consequences under the new rules, along with those who refuse to wear seatbelts.
A Labour source said: "This Labour Government will deliver the first road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads."
Drug-driving checks
Further proposals allegedly include allowing police to pursue drug-driving charges based on roadside saliva testing rather than blood samples, as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with substances in their systems.
In 2012, the government brought in a new offence relating to driving with a specified controlled substance in the body above that drug's legal limit. The aim was to reduce costs, effort and time wasted from prosecutions that fail due to difficulties in proving a particular substance affected a driver.
The proposed changes to road safety legislation have been hailed as "much overdue" and "a step in the right direction" by motoring organisations. Edmund King, president of the AA, stated: "The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade.
"We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone."
However, he is calling on the government to go further with these plans and introduce restrictions on new drivers under 21, preventing them from carrying passengers of their own age for six months after passing their test.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, added: "In 2023, there were almost 100 serious injuries or fatalities caused by defective eyesight. These tragedies are avoidable. Every driver has a responsibility to ensure they have good enough eyesight for driving, but vision problems can become more frequent as we age, hence the focus on over-70s.
"This is a sensible step and motorists overall – even those aged 70 and above – support it. For most older drivers who are safe and 'self-regulate', these proposals are unlikely to be controversial."
Politicians are also backing the reforms. A government source reportedly told the BBC: "In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying [on the roads each year], with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2bn per year.
"This Labour government will deliver the first Road Safety Strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has similarly voiced her backing for compulsory eye examinations for motorists aged over 70. "I think we need to make sure that people driving on our roads and using our streets are safe," she said.
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