Millions of drivers BANNED if they fail key compulsory test under plans for major law change – will you be affected?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
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
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Iconic BMW model is being discontinued after 35 YEARS with ‘retro-inspired' send-off
It's getting one-last hurrah - with a selection of very cool colours and other added extras DEAD END Iconic BMW model is being discontinued after 35 YEARS with 'retro-inspired' send-off Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BMW 8-Series is set to be discontinued - a model that traces its roots back to the iconic 1990s E31 generation. And to send it off, the German giants are giving the stylish motor a retro-inspired send-off, courtesy of a very cool special edition called the Edition M Heritage. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The BMW 8-Series - a model that traces its roots back to 1990s E31 generation - is set to be discontinued Credit: BMWGROUP 4 The special edition model, called the Edition M Heritage, is giving the stylish motor a retro-inspired send-off Credit: BMWGROUP 4 The motor will be limited to just 500 units and will feature five different colours Credit: BMWGROUP 4 The 8 Series' discontinuation was announced at the beginning of the year and its run will cease sometime in the middle of 2026 Credit: BMWGROUP According to the BMW Group in America, the limited-edition release will pay homage to the original 8 Series and, to that end, will mark the end of its production run with a host of nostalgic design cues. The car, based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, will be limited to just 500 units, with buyers able to choose from some excellent colour finishes including Bright Red, Mauritius Blue, Cosmos Black, Oxford Green and Daytona Violet. It also comes with a carbon fibre roof adorned with M tri-colour stripes, special 20-inch alloy wheels and the M Sport Professional package - all as standard. This also includes upgraded brakes, black calipers and additional black exterior trim. Inside, buyers can expect plenty of luxury with Alcantara and black Merino leather seats featuring diamond stitching. Alcantara also lines the headliner, dashboard and parts of the door panels. Matte carbon fibre accents and M tri-colour stitching are also used throughout. As you'd expect with the 8 Series, it packs plenty of oomph - retaining the same power as the standard M850i, with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 523 horsepower. That's good for a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. The 8 Series' discontinuation was announced at the beginning of the year and various sources close to BMW have told us it will cease globally sometime in the middle of 2026. BMW M135 is a power-packed hot-hatch that's precise, solid & slick… everything about it is 'sheer driving pleasure' Sadly, no direct successor has been planned. The Edition M Heritage has been quoted at a price of $131,575, which is roughly £97,000 ,and a fair chunk pricier than the standard M850i Gran Coupe. Production of this exclusive model will begin in late 2025, with deliveries expected in early 2026. The model will be distributed to "a few select markets around the world". This comes as, back in May, BMW said jobs at its Swindon Plant "are currently being assessed," casting doubt over the futures of workers. The carmaker announced that it was axing 180 jobs from its Oxford factory amid uncertainty surrounding recently hiked US tariffs. In March, US President Donald Trump declared that a 25% levy would be put in place on all vehicles imported to America from the UK - which has put a significant strain on the British automobile industry.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Huge car dealership is shutting down site forever in ‘strategic restructure' – as exact date of closure revealed
Find out where the next nearest store to you is OUT OF GAS Huge car dealership is shutting down site forever in 'strategic restructure' – as exact date of closure revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR dealership is set to close one of its stores. The permanent closure is part of a strategic regional restructure. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Stratstone Land Rover has announced the closure of its Slough branch Credit: Google maps 3 The store is due to close at the end of August Credit: Google maps Stratstone Land Rover is set to close its Slough showroom on August 31. After the closure, motorists will need to travel to Reading for their nearest store. Other alternatives include Tonbridge, Mayfair, Tottenham and Milton Keynes. Customers were informed of the closure via email. The motor company said its central client care team will handle vehicle finance, workshop bookings and servicing. The email was subsequently shared across social media, although their website is yet to be updated. It reads: "As a valued client of Stratstone Land Rover Slough, we are writing to inform you that as part of a strategic regional restructure, we have taken the decision to permanently close our Slough showroom on 31 August 2025. "I understand this closure may raise questions about vehicle finance workshop bookings and servicing so I'd like to assure you that Stratstone is committed to supporting you throughout your ownership experience, and I encourage you to contact our central care client team if we can help in any way." The store provided a range of services to customers. This included the sale of new and used cars, servicing, MOTs and tyre replacements. 5 things you should never say to a car dealer… a slip of the tongue could cost you hundreds Reviews of the site averaged 3.1 stars from 649 Google reviews. Some reviewers complained of faulty cars being purchased with difficulty getting it repaired. One wrote: "As you can see by the ratings, this dealership is one to avoid." However, others were more positive as one wrote: "Had a great experience purchasing my new car." Last month, Jaguar Land Rover announced its plans to delay the launch of its electric vehicles. It claimed it was to "allow more time for demand". Deliveries of the Range Rover electric were due to begin in late 2025 but this has now been delayed until next year. It still maintained it would sell electric versions for all its brands by 2030. Prior to this, it said it would axe up to 500 jobs in the UK, largely in managerial roles. It was partially caused by concerns around increased tariffs.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish 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? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 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.'
