Andy Burnham's over-70 driving test proposals would require drivers aged over 70 to take eyesight tests every three years, with licences revoked if they fail. The plan sits inside a fresh road safety strategy and has prompted confusion online about whether it means a full driving test.
Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, said: “Sufficient eyesight is crucial for safe driving at any age, as clear vision is essential for spotting hazards and reacting quickly behind the wheel.” He also said many motorists may not realise when their vision no longer meets the legal standard, including being able to read a number plate from 20 metres away.
Andy Burnham road safety strategy
The proposals are part of a fresh road safety strategy drawn up by the Labour Government. Under the current system, motorists already renew their licences at age 70 and every three years after that, and they are expected to declare any medical conditions themselves. The new plan would add a compulsory eyesight check to that renewal cycle.
Pensioners may also be required to undergo cognitive tests under measures currently being considered. That would extend the proposals beyond eyesight alone and move the process from self-declaration to direct testing for older drivers who keep renewing their licences.
X backlash and correction
After the announcement, an X user wrote: “I’ve just written to my MP about Burnham’s plans for over 70’s to take a driving test every 3 years. I am totally incensed about it on so many levels.” A community note on X corrected that claim, stating: “Eyesight tests will be required every 3 years from age 70. Not full driving tests.”
The clash matters for drivers deciding what the proposal actually changes. The text attached to the post makes clear the requirement discussed online was eyesight testing, not repeating a full practical driving exam every three years.
Labour Government plans
The rules would still leave the same renewal points in place for anyone who reaches 70, but they would add a new pass-or-fail test at each three-year interval. If an older driver fails, the proposal says the licence would be revoked, making the eyesight check the key hurdle in the renewal process.
Burnham's proposals have already triggered public reaction, yet the broader package still includes only what has been set out so far: compulsory eyesight tests from age 70, possible cognitive tests under consideration, and licence revocation for failures. For drivers approaching 70, the practical step is simple — treat eyesight as part of licence renewal rather than as a matter to sort out later.
