Millions of drivers BANNED if they fail key compulsory test under plans for major law change – will you be affected?
MILLIONS of drivers will be banned if they fail a compulsory test under plans for a major law change.
Ministers are mulling bringing in a new rule for older drivers in England and Wales.
4
Vision checks for older driver are expected to be reinforced under the changes
Credit: Getty
4
There has been an increase in the number of older people who continue to drive with sight or medical issues
Mandatory eye tests for drivers over the age of 70 are being considered alongside a range of other measures, The Times reports.
The proposals also include reducing the drink-drive limit and tougher penalties on uninsured drivers and those who fail to wear a seatbelt.
They will belong to a new road safety strategy that the government plans to publish this autumn.
The change would mark the biggest shake-up of driving rules for nearly two decades, since the Road Safety Act introduced under Tony Blair in 2006.
Over-70s would be required to undertake an eye-test every three years.
A potential medical test for conditions, such as dementia, is also reportedly being looked at alongside eye tests.
People over 70 already lose their C1 and D1 entitlements on their license.
C1 allows drivers to handle medium-sized vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) between 3,500kg and 7,500kg.
D1 entitlements mean drivers can use minibuses that have less than 16 passengers.
Older drivers under the new rules could also be faced with further regulations due to concerns over the number of road accidents that have seen a recent increase after years of decline.
Major New Driving Laws for Summer & Fall 2025: What You Need to Know
Last year, 1,633 people were killed in road traffic accidents, and nearly 28,000 were seriously injured.
This now equates to around one casualty every 18 minutes, despite numbers almost halving from 41,000 to 24,000 between 2000 and 2010.
On top of that, the number of drivers over the age of 60 involved in serious or fatal collisions in the UK has also risen by 47 per cent since 2010.
Incidents of people being killed in drink-driving incidents have also risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022.
Ministers are therefore thinking about a implementing reforms to Britain's road safety measures, with the UK being considered to have the "laxest" rules in Europe.
It is the one of only three countries to rely on the self-reporting of visual conditions among individuals who deem their ability to drive affected.
This comes with the rise in drug-driving incidents, as well as those involving older people who continue to drive with failing sight or other medical conditions.
Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has been developing a wide-range of new safety measures and increased penalties for breaking the law.
Current key road safety messages and penalties such as around wearing seatbelts and avoiding drink-driving are considered to no longer be working.
The percentage of casualties killed while not wearing a seatbelt has risen from 21 per cent in 2014 to 25 per cent in 2023.
4
Drivers over the age of 60 have increasingly been involved in serious collisions
Credit: Getty
4
In Britain, this increased by 47 per cent since 2010
Credit: Getty
For back seat passengers, this increased to 40 per cent, with 181 fatalities in 2023, compared to 142 passengers killed not wearing a seatbelt in 2020.
Currently, drivers not wearing seatbelts are issued three penalty points, and a maximum court fine of £500.
Passengers with a licence, who do not wear a seatbelt, can be issued two penalty points.
Along with new proposals around drink and drug-driving limits, and criminal penalties for driving without insurance, the strategy is due to be published in the autumn.
It will be put out for consultation, with parts expected to require primary legislation.
Edmund King, AA president, said: 'It is in everyone's interests to tackle road safety and bring the levels of death and serious injuries down significantly.
'In other countries, such as Australia and Canada, the introduction of new measures to help young drivers have reduced death and serious injury from between 20 per cent and up to 40 per cent.
"Hence if the UK scheme saw similar reductions, it is estimated that at least 58 deaths and 934 serious injuries could be prevented each year.'
He also brought up the need for increased police enforcement to ensure rules are followed.
"The stark reality is that, as well as better education and tougher rules, we need more officers to police the streets — at least 1,000 more roads officers, not only to act as a deterrent, but to stop dangerous drivers in the act before a tragedy happens," King added.
Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, stated that full evidence of eye testing should also be a standard component to driver licensing when first applying, and at each renewal.
'It will be important for any new strategy to recognise the priorities that we and others have highlighted — focusing on young drivers, crash investigation and mandatory fitment of safe-driving features in new cars — but also to maintain activity on established issues such as drink and drug-driving and seatbelt wearing.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Millions of drivers BANNED if they fail key compulsory test under plans for major law change – will you be affected?
ROAD BAN Millions of drivers BANNED if they fail key compulsory test under plans for major law change – will you be affected? MILLIONS of drivers will be banned if they fail a compulsory test under plans for a major law change. Ministers are mulling bringing in a new rule for older drivers in England and Wales. 4 Vision checks for older driver are expected to be reinforced under the changes Credit: Getty 4 There has been an increase in the number of older people who continue to drive with sight or medical issues Mandatory eye tests for drivers over the age of 70 are being considered alongside a range of other measures, The Times reports. The proposals also include reducing the drink-drive limit and tougher penalties on uninsured drivers and those who fail to wear a seatbelt. They will belong to a new road safety strategy that the government plans to publish this autumn. The change would mark the biggest shake-up of driving rules for nearly two decades, since the Road Safety Act introduced under Tony Blair in 2006. Over-70s would be required to undertake an eye-test every three years. A potential medical test for conditions, such as dementia, is also reportedly being looked at alongside eye tests. People over 70 already lose their C1 and D1 entitlements on their license. C1 allows drivers to handle medium-sized vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) between 3,500kg and 7,500kg. D1 entitlements mean drivers can use minibuses that have less than 16 passengers. Older drivers under the new rules could also be faced with further regulations due to concerns over the number of road accidents that have seen a recent increase after years of decline. Major New Driving Laws for Summer & Fall 2025: What You Need to Know Last year, 1,633 people were killed in road traffic accidents, and nearly 28,000 were seriously injured. This now equates to around one casualty every 18 minutes, despite numbers almost halving from 41,000 to 24,000 between 2000 and 2010. On top of that, the number of drivers over the age of 60 involved in serious or fatal collisions in the UK has also risen by 47 per cent since 2010. Incidents of people being killed in drink-driving incidents have also risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022. Ministers are therefore thinking about a implementing reforms to Britain's road safety measures, with the UK being considered to have the "laxest" rules in Europe. It is the one of only three countries to rely on the self-reporting of visual conditions among individuals who deem their ability to drive affected. This comes with the rise in drug-driving incidents, as well as those involving older people who continue to drive with failing sight or other medical conditions. Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has been developing a wide-range of new safety measures and increased penalties for breaking the law. Current key road safety messages and penalties such as around wearing seatbelts and avoiding drink-driving are considered to no longer be working. The percentage of casualties killed while not wearing a seatbelt has risen from 21 per cent in 2014 to 25 per cent in 2023. 4 Drivers over the age of 60 have increasingly been involved in serious collisions Credit: Getty 4 In Britain, this increased by 47 per cent since 2010 Credit: Getty For back seat passengers, this increased to 40 per cent, with 181 fatalities in 2023, compared to 142 passengers killed not wearing a seatbelt in 2020. Currently, drivers not wearing seatbelts are issued three penalty points, and a maximum court fine of £500. Passengers with a licence, who do not wear a seatbelt, can be issued two penalty points. Along with new proposals around drink and drug-driving limits, and criminal penalties for driving without insurance, the strategy is due to be published in the autumn. It will be put out for consultation, with parts expected to require primary legislation. Edmund King, AA president, said: 'It is in everyone's interests to tackle road safety and bring the levels of death and serious injuries down significantly. 'In other countries, such as Australia and Canada, the introduction of new measures to help young drivers have reduced death and serious injury from between 20 per cent and up to 40 per cent. "Hence if the UK scheme saw similar reductions, it is estimated that at least 58 deaths and 934 serious injuries could be prevented each year.' He also brought up the need for increased police enforcement to ensure rules are followed. "The stark reality is that, as well as better education and tougher rules, we need more officers to police the streets — at least 1,000 more roads officers, not only to act as a deterrent, but to stop dangerous drivers in the act before a tragedy happens," King added. Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, stated that full evidence of eye testing should also be a standard component to driver licensing when first applying, and at each renewal. 'It will be important for any new strategy to recognise the priorities that we and others have highlighted — focusing on young drivers, crash investigation and mandatory fitment of safe-driving features in new cars — but also to maintain activity on established issues such as drink and drug-driving and seatbelt wearing.'
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Another blow for struggling car brand as it's forced to recall 14,000 motors over ‘confusing headlight malfunction'
It has issued six recalls so far this year HIT REVERSE Another blow for struggling car brand as it's forced to recall 14,000 motors over 'confusing headlight malfunction' A STRUGGLING car brand is facing yet another blow as it was forced to recall 14,000 vehicles. The recall concerns a headlight malfunction which could cause confusion for oncoming drivers. 2 Nissan has recalled around 14,000 cars over a headlight fault Credit: Getty The recall As a result, Nissan has recalled 13,719 of the faulty cars. It affects its 2025 Frontier model - a midsize pickup truck. New regulations mean that modern cars have to run the front lights even during the daytime. However, a software issue has left the Nissan trucks with its two front lights dimmed. The company told The Daily Mail that the lights become dim when the start-stop function occurs, usually at a red light or in traffic. It led to concern that it might confuse oncoming drivers or pedestrians, "increasing the risk of a crash". What you need to do? Thankfully the recall has a relatively easy fix. Drivers just need to bring their car into a dealership where they will receive a free computer update. A notice will be issued to customers in the post in mid-September. Sales of the car have slowed this year, with a 23 per cent decline from last year's reports. Luxury automaker to convert once-beloved sports bar left abandoned for years into an 'exclusive' motorcycle dealership Nissan's ongoing problems Nissan has been facing a number of ongoing issues, with concerns that the brand could collapse. With a $4.5 billion net loss over the last financial year, and around $4.8 billion debt, the motor company has been desperately looking for solutions. A potential merger with Honda earlier this year fell through. As part of a restructuring plan, a number of its production plants are set to close, potentially affecting thousands of employees. Amidst the financial issues, the company has also issued six recalls this year alone. Over 440,000 cars were recalled in the US over concerns of engine failure. A manufacturing defect could increase the likelihood of engine damage or failure, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes the 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50 and 2022 Infiniti QX55. All vehicles have either a three-cylinder, 1.5 litre or four-cylinder, two litre variable compression turbo engine. Drivers could take their cars into a dealership for inspection and repair if needed.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Child in pram hit by motorbike that crashed into car and mounted pavement
Police are urging any witnesses to come forward PRAM HORROR Child in pram hit by motorbike that crashed into car and mounted pavement A CHILD in a pram was hit by a motorbike after it crashed into a car and mounted the pavement. An air ambulance was called to the scene and an 18-year-old man was rushed to hospital with potentially life-changing injuries, the cops said. 2 A child in a pram was hit by a motorbike after it crashed into a car and mounted the pavement Credit: Getty 2 An 18-year-old was rushed to hospital with potential life-changing injuries Credit: Google Maps Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called at around 7.40pm to North Street, Plymouth, after receiving reports of a serious road traffic incident on Wednesday. The force said the collision involved a black and orange KTM RC-125 motorcycle and a red Citroen DS3 car. The child was assessed by paramedics at the scene but was uninjured while the driver of the car did not sustain any injuries. An 18-year-old man, who was riding the motorbike, was taken to Derriford Hospital with what the police described as "potentially life changing injuries". North Street was closed for initial investigations and re-opened at around 10.15pm. Police are now urging any witnesses to come forward.
