Overview
- Transport officials say the plan remains out for consultation until May 2026, with decisions on provider accreditation and certification still pending.
- The proposal would replace self-declared eyesight checks at licence renewal after age 70 with compulsory eye examinations every three years.
- Lilian Greenwood said she chaired a 24 February roundtable on older drivers’ eyesight and that officials have met the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists.
- Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin asked whether any qualified optician could certify tests rather than a single provider being appointed.
- The government cites 1,224 older car driver killed-or-seriously-injured casualties in 2024, while Age UK backs safety aims but urges pairing tests with raising the renewal age to 75.