Older UK Drivers Want a Level Playing Field on Eye Tests

Yes that old school sense of fairness. But why should younger drivers be exempt from mandatory eyesight tests if they are going to be applied to those renewing their licences at 70 plus? Fairness is a foundation stone of democracy, once you construct a society of castes, special groups or pecking orders, you lay the groundwork for civil unrest.

Here’s the word;

Older drivers are the biggest supporters of regular eye tests for motorists. That’s despite being the most likely age group to be impacted by the Government’s proposed policy changes, new findings reveal.

The Department for Transport is considering mandatory in-person eye tests for older drivers – replacing the current system where motorists over 70 self-certify their driving fitness every three years. 

A survey by leading nearly new and used car retailer Motorpoint found that those aged over 65 were four times as likely to advocate for regular eye tests every three years (37%) than motorists aged 17-24 (9%).

Having surveyed 2,000 UK motorists, Motorpoint found that drivers aged 25-34 were the second most likely to oppose the prospective policy change. Just 23% said they would support regular eye tests as a driving requirement. 

While not overly popular with any age group, older drivers are the least resistant to the proposed regulation changes. They were also the most aware of the eyesight rules that drivers must meet.

Over half (54%) of drivers aged 65+ knew they must report significant eyesight changes to the DVLA. That’s 35% higher than the average across all age groups. They were also 1.4 times more likely (47% of 65+ drivers) to be aware that they could receive fines and penalty points if their eyesight fell below the legal standard. 

Discussing the findings, Motorpoint’s resident motoring expert, Tim Rodie, says, “Our research shows that older drivers are actually the most engaged group with vision safety on the road. They’re also more supportive of measures that could improve safety for all road users.

“This is great to see because older motorists will be more impacted by policy changes on eyesight testing. 62% of motorists aged 65 and over think the same vision testing standards should apply to all car owners, regardless of age, so clearly many drivers feel the DfT’s proposed changes don’t go far enough.”

To find out more about what motorists think about driving eyesight standards, visit: https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/company-news/legal-eyesight-requirements-for-driving-study