Outrage at threat to strip over-70s of driving licences over eyesight tests

Drivers eye tests

Any attempt to introduce compulsory eye tests for drivers over the age of 70 is “clearly discrimination”, a campaigner for Britain’s senior citizens has said.

And Dennis Reed, Director of Silver Voices, also warned anything which made it more difficult for older people to drive risked robbing them of their independence.

The Automobile Association (AA) earlier this month suggested road safety could be improved by requiring over-70s to provide evidence of regular eye tests when renewing their licences.

Peter Waddell, a spokesman for car sales website BigWantsYourCar, responded by warning if the idea became a reality, it risked millions losing their driving licences.

Mr Reed told Express.co.uk: “I get so fed-up with these arbitrary attacks on my members – as do they.

“Sometimes as you get older, your eyesight can even improve slightly, particularly if you’re not doing as much work as you used to do.

“Saying people have got to have a compulsory eye test is quite frankly nonsense and it’s also quite clearly age discrimination if you just set an arbitrary limit and say everybody above that particular level of age needs to needs to be tested, but not people below. “

If it was determined that there was a need for regular eye tests for drivers, it needed to be for everybody, not just those over a certain age, Mr Reed stressed.

He continued: “Accident statistics suggest that older drivers are safer than younger drivers and also, when you get older, you’re entitled to free eye tests.

“Most of our members know that they can go to an optician and get tested free, and if they need new glasses then they can obviously get them.”

It was not the first time the idea of compulsory eye tests for older motorists had been floated either, Mr Reed said.

He explained: “I think it’s all a bit of a storm in a teacup but it just keeps coming back, this one .

“Wait a few months and there’s yet another attack on older drivers we’re fed up with it.”

Glasses on eye testing exam chart to check eyesight accuracy of reading.

He also emphasised: “One other aspect is that older drivers, because they’re not so mobile, will depend more on their cars to do their shopping, whereas perhaps when they were 20 or 30 years younger, they will be able to walk down to the supermarket and carry heavy bags, but they’re not able to do that.

“So they rely on their cars, both for day to day living and also to see family and friends.”

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s Charity Director at Age UK, was similarly critical, suggesting that age was “a pretty poor indicator of driving ability”.

She added: “The truth is that some people are better drivers than others regardless of age. It is also important to remember that there are more older drivers on the road today than ever before and overall, their safety record is very good – in fact on average they are less likely to have an accident than younger drivers.

Angry young woman driver talking by phone

“Driving a car can be a lifeline for older people helping them keep in touch with family and friends and maintain their independence.

“As we get older the time may well come when the right thing to do is to hang up the car keys, because illness, disability or frailty means we no longer feel confident to drive but if an older person feels fit and healthy and has regular health checks there is no reason why they should not carry on.”

A YouGov survey published recently indicated considerable backing for extra checks on older drivers, with 65 percent of UK adults backing the idea of people aged 70 and over retaking a practical test every three years.

Commenting earlier this month, AA president Edward King said: “Young, predominantly male drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys.

“However, we do believe that one check to improve road safety would be for those over 70 years of age to show evidence of regular eye tests when renewing their licence, and also stricter guidance from GPs.”

He concluded: “We all age differently and the car is an essential lifeline for many elderly people.”

European nations including France and Germany already do require drivers to have mandatory eyesight tests.

In the UK, the DVLA requires all drivers to renew their driving licences when they reach the age of 70, and every three years afterwards.

With respect to eyesight, DVLA rules state:

• You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after September 1 2001 from 20 metres
• You 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 (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye
• You must also have an adequate field of vision – your optician can tell you about this and do a test