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Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Friday, 5 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. It was answered by Lilian Greenwood (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Driving: Older People

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing periodic eyesight checks for drivers aged 70 and over.

Answer

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if at any time they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

The DVLA will investigate those drivers who notify them of a medical condition and will only issue a driving licence to them if they can meet the appropriate medical standards.

A public consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers was launched on 7 January and closed on 11 May.

The Department for Transport is currently analysing the responses, and the government response will be published once that is complete.

The logistical arrangements for carrying out any potential new eyesight tests formed part of the consultation. No decisions will be made until the responses to the consultation have been carefully considered.

While the consultation focused on the mandatory eyesight testing of drivers aged 70 and over, we also recognise that as the population ages, more will need to be done to address the challenges this poses and consideration will also be given in the future to other fitness to drive measures, such as cognitive assessments.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
7328
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Driving Eyesight Older people Testing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk