Driving Licences: Older People
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to introduce medical assessments for drivers renewing their licences after the age of 70.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood
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.
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