Andy Burnham Proposes Mandatory Road Tests for Drivers Over 70

Andy Burnham and the Labour Government have proposed a new road safety initiative requiring mandatory assessments for motorists aged 70 and older. The primary measure would introduce compulsory eyesight tests every three years for drivers in this age group as a requirement for license renewal, replacing the existing self-reporting system for medical conditions.

Drivers who fail these examinations could face the withdrawal of their driving licenses. The initiative follows a rise in fatal crashes involving elderly drivers and seeks to address safety concerns more proactively. Officials noted that over 10,000 licenses have already been withdrawn or declined since the start of last year.

In addition to vision checks, the government is considering the introduction of cognitive assessments to evaluate concentration and reaction times. While the eyesight tests are a central part of the current strategy, a final decision on the implementation of cognitive testing has not yet been reached.