One of the UK's leading road safety organisations has called for all motorists to face a mandatory eyesight test when renewing their licence.
James Luckhurst, head of road safety at GEM Motoring Assist, has called for more to be done to overhaul the system of self-certification following several high-profile incidents.
The senior coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, made a public plea to the Government to introduce eyesight testing for elderly drivers after four people were killed by drivers with insufficient vision.
He called on Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to introduce changes to keep motorists with impaired eyesight off the road, describing the current system as "ineffective".
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Road safety experts are calling for drivers to face mandatory eyesight tests
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In the UK, drivers are only required to be able to read a car number plate made after September 1, 2001, from 20 metres.
They must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale.
While there is a threat of prosecution if people drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving, many experts continue to warn that drivers who do not meet these standards remain on the road.
James Luckhurst is now warning that driving is a privilege, and not a right, with motorists needing to accept that there comes a time when they may be forced to stop driving.
He pointed to the case of Peter Gardner, who was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving after his car struck 70-year-old cyclist Jim Tassell.
The 82-year-old motorist admitted to the crash in Andover in 2022. It was found that he was unable to read more than three metres ahead of him.
Luckhurst said: "There are too many incidents where drivers simply ignore the warnings. They fail to comply with legal instructions not to drive and go on to hurt or kill.
"Mandatory eye tests need to be introduced for everyone at the time of licence renewal. Optometrists should report results directly to the DVLA.
"But we can't wait for changes in the law, so let's also encourage everyone to seek a driver MOT of some sort at licence renewal time."
He suggested that motorists should have to take a test every time they renew their licence, which would be every three years for drivers once they reach 70 years of age.
GEM Motoring Assist said it was in support of a "Driver MOT" which would require motorists to have a health check-up every three years. It would focus on vision, reaction times and cognitive awareness.
Luckhurst clarified that the calls for greater protections had "nothing to do with restricting freedom", but rather focused on road safety.
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Experts have previously called for compulsory eyesight tests once a driver reaches 70 years of age
PAHe added: "It’s all about safer roads, while helping everyone accept that a perceived ‘right to drive’ doesn’t unnecessarily put someone else’s life at risk."
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport told GB News: "The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight.
"We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this."
