Mandatory sight tests for drivers over 70 proposed in new road safety strategy
Campaigners say changes could save lives after years of stalled progress
Drivers over the age of 70 could face mandatory eyesight tests under new proposals from the UK Government’s road safety strategy, announced today (6th January 2026).
The measure is part of the first comprehensive road safety plan in more than a decade, which aims to dramatically reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 2035.
It comes as families affected by fatal collisions involving drivers with eyesight below the legal standard have been calling for mandatory eye tests to be introduced in the UK to prevent future tragedies.
Marie Cunningham, 79, and Grace Foulds, 85, were killed in 2021 while crossing the road in Southport by a driver whose vision was so poor he could not see his car’s steering wheel. Glyn Jones, 65, had been warned nine times over a decade by medical professionals that he did not meet the legal standard for driving but ignored the advice.
Jones was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for causing the deaths of Marie and Grace.
Last year we exclusively reveal through an Freedom of Information request that between 1 January 2020 and 21 October 2025, a total number of 47,180 GB licence holders had their driving entitlement revoked, for failing to meet the required vision standards to drive.
Marie’s family, led by her sons Steve and Terry Cunningham, are campaigning to stop further deaths by addressing flaws in the UK’s self-reporting system for visual conditions.
Currently, drivers are required to pass an eyesight test to read a registration plate at a distance of 20m during their driving test. After this, eyesight is only self-reported when renewing a licence at age 70 and every three years thereafter, leaving decades without checks.
The strategy suggests mandatory checks would help protect road users and improve safety.
Campaigns for change
The proposed changes have been welcomed by families and organisations following years of concerns over declining road safety.
Steve Cunningham, who lost his mother Marie Cunningham and her friend Grace Foulds in 2021 after they were struck by a driver with severely impaired vision, has been campaigning for stricter eyesight regulations for years.
"For the first time, they’re recognising that eyesight deteriorates as you age, and this isn’t about pensioner bashing. But if your optician tells you that you’re not fit to drive, you shouldn’t be driving a one-ton vehicle,” Cunningham said.
“When you drive a car, you’re operating a machine that could kill multiple people. We’ve seen the consequences first-hand, and we wouldn’t want that to happen to anyone else.”
He stressed the importance of public support in the consultation phase, explaining: "Seven out of 10 people would recommend changing the legislation so drivers must provide evidence that their eyesight is fit for driving, regardless of age."
Campaigners call for action
The proposal aligns with the strategy’s broader goals to restore momentum in improving road safety. Although UK road deaths have declined significantly since the 1970s, the decrease has slowed since 2010, with 1,602 fatalities recorded in 2024 compared to 1,850 in 2010.
The strategy includes a series of measures targeting safer driving, but campaigners say introducing mandatory sight tests to reduce the risks posed by impaired vision could be particularly effective in protecting pedestrians and other motorists.
Public consultation
The Department for Transport (DfT) will hold public consultations to refine and secure support for the proposals. It anticipates the measures will contribute to ambitious casualty reduction targets.
Edmund King, AA president, described the broader strategy – including mandatory eye tests and other reforms – as “a radical reframing of road safety.”
Steve Cunningham and his family hope the strategy will be a turning point after years of campaigning.
“This opportunity from the government is for change,” Steve Cunningham said. “This is a public consultation, and we need people to understand how vital it is to protect lives on the road.”
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