Doctors warned they face serious dilemma over tough new rules for older drivers

GPs and opticians have been warned they may be placed in an impossible position, torn between protecting public safety and maintaining patient trust, under Government plans to tighten road safety laws with mandatory eyesight tests for older motorists and potential driving bans for those who fail. The measures — confirmed on Monday — will be included in a road safety strategy due to be published in the autumn. They will be alongside proposals to cut the drink-drive limit in England and Wales and introduce tougher penalties for uninsured and drug-driving offences.

Under the plans, drivers over 70 would be required to pass compulsory eye tests every three years, and those who fail would face an immediate licence ban. Charlotte Dowson, a complex injury solicitor at Bolt Burdon Kemp, said the move could be justified if applied fairly, but admitted it raises complex legal and ethical questions for medics.

She told The Express: “As we age, we suffer physical, cognitive and sensory decline, which could affect our driving ability. If someone over the age of 70 fails a proper, independent eyesight test, stopping them from driving is likely to be both fair and necessary. This isn’t about punishing people for their age — it’s about making sure everyone behind the wheel meets basic safety standards. The stakes are too high to take chances.

“Whilst it is right to recognise that driving gives older people freedom and independence, without which they may become depressed and isolated, public safety is paramount. Relying on self-declaration at 70 isn’t enough. A quick, regular test to check eyesight, reaction times and awareness would help keep everyone safe while allowing capable older drivers to keep their independence.

“Mandatory reporting duties could expose clinicians to claims if they fail to act and an accident occurs, or to complaints if disclosure breaches confidentiality.

"I’d seek assurance that legal frameworks protect both patients’ rights and the public, without eroding trust that encourages disclosure of medical issues. Done properly, this could save lives. Most people would rather their GP spoke up than risk them, or someone they love, being hurt in a preventable collision.

“Restrictions such as daylight-only driving or shorter licence renewals could work for mild issues. However, if someone can’t meet the basic eyesight standard, they simply shouldn’t drive until the issue is rectified. It’s about protecting the public from tragedies that could so easily be avoided.”

Official figures show that in 2023, there were 1,633 road deaths in Britain and nearly 28,000 serious injuries. While the numbers have fallen sharply since 2000, progress has stalled over the past decade.

The Department for Transport is also considering reducing the drink-drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms — matching Scotland and most of Europe — and giving police powers to prosecute drug-driving cases based on roadside saliva tests rather than blood samples.

One of the most contentious proposals is to give GPs and opticians a legal duty to report patients deemed unfit to drive. Ms Dowson warned that they could expose themselves to lawsuits if they fail to act after a collision, or to complaints if they breach confidentiality.

Some road safety advocates have suggested phased or conditional restrictions for those with mild impairments — such as daylight-only driving or shorter licence renewals — as a compromise. Ms Dowson said these could work in limited cases but insisted there must be a clear standard.

Motoring groups have welcomed the renewed focus on safety. Edmund King, president of the AA, called the changes “much overdue” and “a step in the right direction”, adding: “Vision checks for older drivers and targeting drink and drug drivers are practical steps that can make a real difference.”

The strategy — the first in more than a decade — will be subject to consultation. Labour says it will “restore order to our roads” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has backed the principle, recalling the case of a mother killed by a driver with poor eyesight.

If implemented, the reforms would align England and Wales with much of Europe and represent the most significant shift in fitness-to-drive rules in years — but also leave doctors facing one of the toughest professional dilemmas of their careers.