Are rules for older drivers likely to change?

Some people may have negative perceptions of older drivers.

There's currently no legal age at which you must stop driving. By law, you must renew your licence when you reach the age of 70, and then every three years after that. During each renewal, you will have to declare any medical conditions listed on the form and confirm you meet the eyesight standards for driving. If a condition or disability is not declared, a fine of up to £1,000 can be issued, and prosecution is possible if you are involved in a crash.

Driving is essential to many older people as it helps to keep them active and independent. Without being able to drive, they may find it harder to visit family and friends. Elderly people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and isolation, which can have serious consequences on their health and wellbeing. Therefore, it’s important any drastic measures such as banning this certain age group from driving is thoroughly considered.

How do older drivers compare to younger drivers?

It’s likely high-profile crash cases involving older people, such as the incident with the Duke of Edinburgh in January 2019, significantly impact the public’s view on the safety of older drivers.

According to government findings, in 2023, the over-70s age bracket accounted for 11% of crashes where someone was injured. In contrast, young drivers in their teens and early 20s were involved in 20% of injury crashes.

However, drivers over 85 may be more susceptible to causing crashes as their faculties fade and their experience is no longer enough to compensate. And with an ageing population, this is something that can’t be ignored.

Ageing population

We can't ignore the fact that mental and physical deterioration is inevitable as we age.

A major change we experience when getting older is vision deterioration. We become less sensitive to light, which is what enables us to see clearly. Refocusing from one object to another also takes longer, meaning the simple task of checking the rear-view mirror then shifting attention back to the road ahead, becomes more of a challenge.

Muscles that regulate the size of the pupils weaken with age, meaning pupils become smaller, dilate more slowly in the dark and react more sluggishly to light. Other visual systems affected by ageing include peripheral vision, depth perception and colour perception.

In addition, reflexes can get slower as you get older – meaning you may not react as quickly. A potential shortened attention span may also make it harder to concentrate. Stiff joints or weak muscles that can affect many older people, can make it harder to steer or use foot pedals. Alongside all this, the older we get, the more likely we are to suffer with certain medical conditions that can impair driving ability, such as dementia.

Are driving rules for older drivers likely to change?

The government has been working on an action plan to address road safety. This may involve mandatory eyesight tests at 70 years of age, then at three year intervals thereafter (coinciding with licence renewal).

They are assessing how much poor vision is, or may itself become, a road safety problem in the UK and if there is a requirement for a new vision test to identify drivers who pose a collision risk.

They will be working with the insurance industry to look at data on catastrophic claims involving older drivers, to understand the causes and how to prevent them.

Stay safe in the driver’s seat

The truth is, we all age at different rates. Some drivers will be as safe at 80 as they were when they were 40 and then there will be others who should probably have given up driving at 65.

We've put together some things we all must do, at any age, to ensure we are safe to drive.

Notify the DVLA of any medical conditions that could affect driving

It's a legal requirement to tell the DVLA about a health or medical condition that could affect your driving. If you're unsure of the medical conditions you are required to declare, please see the DVLA website.

Drive defensively

To ensure safe driving you need to continuously look for potential hazards. A defensive driver will not only concentrate on their own actions, but the possible actions of other road users. This type of driving helps to reduce the chance of a collision by anticipating dangerous situations, despite actions of other road users or the conditions you're driving in.

Ensure your vision is meeting the minimum requirements

You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres (with contact lenses or glasses, if you need them). There are also minimum requirements for the clarity of your vision (visual acuity) and your field of vision, which an optician can check for you. Changes to your eyesight can happen gradually, meaning you may not even notice, so it’s widely recommended that you get your eyes tested at least once every two years. If you're concerned at any point that your eyesight may have worsened, don’t delay and get yourself booked in for a test.

Don’t be stubborn

Driving a motor vehicle is one of the biggest responsibilities we have day-to-day. It’s vital and potentially life-saving to admit when you can no longer drive safely. If your reactions are noticeably slower than they used to be, and you find traffic conditions increasingly stressful, it could be time to give up driving.

Tell the DVLA if you have concerns about a loved one

If you are concerned about a loved one’s ability to drive due to medical grounds, you can report your concerns anonymously through the DVLA website.

Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore Swinton Insurance cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.