Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has welcomed the government’s proposal to introduce compulsory eyesight tests for drivers as a crucial and overdue step towards safer roads. The group, which has been advocating for reform of UK driver vision standards for years, calls for a broader and more ambitious approach that extends mandatory testing beyond just drivers aged 70 and over.
Currently, eyesight checks are only required at the point of obtaining a licence and upon reaching the age of 70, with self-reporting the primary means of flagging any deterioration in vision thereafter. GEM’s head of road safety, James Luckhurst, highlights the inherent risks of this approach: “For too long we have relied on self-reporting of eyesight problems, and we welcome the prospect of this welcome shift toward proactive safety enforcement.”
According to Luckhurst, many drivers of all ages may be unknowingly driving with visual impairments that put themselves and others at risk. “Regular eyesight tests would help protect all road users by identifying visual impairments that could compromise safe driving,” he says.
GEM’s position is clear: all licence holders should undergo a professional eye examination every two years as a matter of both individual responsibility and public safety. This would ensure that deteriorating eyesight is identified early and addressed promptly, reducing the chances of vision-related accidents on UK roads.
“This reform is about safety, not ageism,” Luckhurst stresses. “It is not intended to unfairly target older drivers or restrict anyone’s freedom, but to uphold standards that protect everyone who shares the road.” The organisation urges the government to view these changes as a vital commitment to public safety, ensuring that the regulations evolve in line with modern understanding of eyesight and road risk.
Beyond the legislative framework, GEM is also calling for a first-rate communications strategy to accompany any changes. Experience has shown that even well-intended reforms can falter without clear, effective messaging. GEM points to the controversy and confusion that surrounded the Highway Code’s ‘hierarchy of road users’ update in 2022 as a cautionary example.
“We need to ensure the communication mistakes made then are not repeated,” Luckhurst warns. “Road safety is often dismissed by those who don’t see it as relevant to their own behaviour. If we want real change—if we want safer roads—we must bring the public on board, helping change minds and behaviours that ultimately save lives.”
As the government considers its next steps, GEM Motoring Assist stands ready to support the introduction of rigorous, fair, and well-communicated eyesight testing that prioritises the safety of all road users—young and old alike.
