A proposed UK driving regulation requiring eyesight tests for older motorists every three years faces delays, with fines up to £1,000 now postponed. The government has extended public consultations on all road safety initiatives until May 11, 2026, to allow broader input.
Key Road Safety Reforms on Hold
These reforms target multiple risks, including impaired vision among seniors, drink- and drug-driving, seatbelt non-compliance, and uninsured motorists. Officials aim to reduce road deaths and serious injuries through these comprehensive changes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighted that road safety progress has stalled and called for robust actions. “We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence,” she stated. “The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”
Potential Penalties for Vision Violations
Insurance specialist Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket warns that failing to wear corrective lenses like glasses or contacts while driving could result in a £1,000 fine and three penalty points. “Not only are there legal ramifications, but there are also financial ones too, should you get into an accident, as your car insurance could be invalidated if you do not meet the standards of vision,” she explained.
Hempsted emphasized regular check-ups: “People’s vision can change over time, sometimes without them realising. That’s why it’s important to have an eye test every two years to make sure you still meet the legal standard for driving safely and confidently.”
Industry Support for Overhaul
Edmund King OBE, president of The AA and director of The AA Charitable Trust, praised the proposals as a “radical reframing of road safety” that is “long overdue.” He commended the government’s ambitious strategy: “We commend the government for its wide-ranging and ambitious strategy and ambitious targets, which we hope will save the lives of thousands of people.”
King stressed priorities: “Tackling drivers who drive under the influence of drink or drugs, people who don’t wear their seatbelts and those getting behind the wheel without insurance are key to reducing road deaths and serious injuries.”
