UK road safety push tightens eye tests for older drivers and cuts drink-drive limit

The government weighs eye tests for drivers over 70 and a lower drink-drive limit as part of a broader road safety push.

UK road safety push tightens eye tests for older drivers and cuts drink-drive limit

Ministers are weighing a set of changes in an autumn road safety strategy. Proposals include mandatory eye tests for drivers aged over 70 every three years, a drop in the drink-drive limit from 35 to 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, and tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and for not wearing a seatbelt. The plan would also give police greater power to pursue drug-driving prosecutions with roadside saliva tests. The strategy aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries after a decade of steady road tolls, with last year recording 1,633 deaths and nearly 28,000 serious injuries.

The plan also notes that England and Wales still rely on self reporting for eyesight problems, a gap the government hopes to close. Public consultation is expected before any law changes. Labour figures cite past progress while arguing that current road safety outcomes remain too costly in human and financial terms, underscoring the politics behind the policy push. The strategy, reported to be led by transport secretary Heidi Alexander, is due to be published in the autumn and will be subject to consultation.

Policy design here is as much about public sentiment as it is about numbers. Lowering the drink-drive limit to 22 micrograms aligns England and Wales with Scotland and much of Europe, but it raises questions about enforcement resources and public acceptance. The eye test proposal touches on civil liberties and accessibility for older drivers, even as the data on driving safety in this group remain mixed. The package signals a tougher stance on road safety that could shape political narratives ahead of elections, yet its success will hinge on how well the system can implement and communicate changes without creating new friction for ordinary drivers.

Taken together, the proposals reflect a broader shift toward preventive regulation paired with stronger enforcement. If the autumn plan clarifies funding and timelines, the measures could produce real safety gains. If not, they risk becoming another benchmark of unmet promises that fuel public skepticism and political backlash.

Highlights

The autumn update will reveal whether policy intent translates into safer roads.