7 May 2026

Introducing mandatory sight tests for older drivers is a “simple change that will make roads safer"

Driving and vision Public health 2026

The College of Optometrists and The Association of Optometrists (AOP) warn the current self-declaration system puts more lives at risk of death or injury.

The College of Optometrists and  the AOP have issued a united call to support the inclusion of mandatory eyesight tests for drivers aged 70 and over as part of the government’s Road Safety Strategy – warning the current system continues to put lives at risk of death or injury and must be updated. 

With the Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on road safety measures closing on 11 May, The College of Optometrists and the AOP are calling on policymakers to seize this critical opportunity to implement mandatory eyesight testing with licence renewal for motorists aged over 70. The organisations say it is a “simple change” for the government to implement within existing rules and is strongly supported by the public. 

Devastating consequences

The call comes as families like the Cunninghams speak out about the life-altering consequences of poor vision on the road. Their experience highlights the human cost of a system that relies on self-reporting and outdated checks to ensure drivers meet legal vision standards. 

For the daughter of Mary Cunningham, Susan Rimaitis, what should have been an ordinary day turned into a tragedy that reshaped the family’s life forever.  

Mary Cunningham, 79, and her friend, Grace Foulds, 85, were making their way across Lulworth Road in Southport when they were struck by a vehicle driven by Glynn Jones, who had a severe eye condition that should have prevented him from driving. The pair sustained fatal injuries. 

“We never imagined something like this could happen,” said Mrs Rimaitis. “If evidence of a simple eye test had been required, everything could have been different - Jones would not have been driving legally, and our mum and her friend wouldn’t have been killed. No family should have to go through this.”

No one should lose a loved one because of something so preventable.

System relies on self-reporting

Current regulations require drivers to meet minimum eyesight standards, yet enforcement is limited and largely dependent on individuals recognising and reporting their own visual decline. This is an approach only replicated in five countries across Europe, while the other countries implement more robust measures.    

Research commissioned by The College of Optometrists and the AOP underscores both the scale of the problem and the public’s appetite for change. Findings from a national survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals strong support for mandatory sight tests, with a clear majority of respondents (7 in 10) agreeing that regular eye tests should be required to maintain a driving licence. * 

Optometry is “equipped to deliver”

The College of Optometrists and The AOP emphasise that integrating vision testing into existing licensing requirements would not only improve road safety but also support earlier detection of eye conditions, helping to prevent avoidable sight loss. 

“The solution is in plain sight: a valid sight test at every licence renewal. Optometrists do not just check visual acuity; they detect conditions such as glaucoma and macular disease that drivers may not even be aware of, conditions that impair vision and increase the risk of a serious collision. Mandatory evidence of a valid sight test at licence renewal is a practical step that will save lives.”

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom, Clinical Adviser at The College of Optometrists

A clear opportunity for Government to take “decisive action” 

As the consultation deadline approaches, The College of Optometrists and the AOP are calling on the Department for Transport and DVLA to prioritise mandatory eyesight testing within the Road Safety Strategy. 

“This is a clear opportunity for Government to take decisive action.   

“Tragically, cases like the Cunningham family’s are not isolated, but are part of a wider, systemic failure. 

“The evidence is there to support mandatory eyesight testing at licence renewal, the public supports it, and the profession is ready to make it happen if the appropriate system and funding are put in place. What’s needed now is political conviction and leadership on this critical issue.”

Dr Peter Hampson, Clinical and Policy Director at the AOP

Call to action

In a letter sent from The College of Optometrists and the AOP to the Minister for Local Transport, Lillian Greenwood, the organisations urge the government to follow through on commitments in the Road Safety Strategy to: 

  • introduce mandatory eyesight tests for drivers aged over 70  
  • incorporate routine eyesight testing into driver licensing requirements 
  • act on public support and clinical evidence to strengthen road safety measures and simultaneously improve public health

For the Cunningham family and others affected, change cannot come soon enough. 

“No one should lose a loved one because of something so preventable. We just hope our story helps make a difference,” Mrs Rimaitis added. 

Find out more

*Opinium conducted online research among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults on 25-27 November 2025 on behalf of The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists. 

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