Question of the week: Should eye tests be mandatory for all drivers?
Fri, 06 Jun 2025
Dear Honest John,
"While I fully agree with over 70's having eye tests, at 82 I have had a two-yearly one for over 20 years and have 18/20 vision, without glasses. I believe that all motorist over the age of 40 should have one. as I have seen people in this age group and over who eye sight is not up to standard.
I also believe that reactions tests such as I had in the armed forces should be introduced, as you could have the necessary eyesight but poor reactions."
- MJ
Dear MJ,
Eye tests for drivers of all ages should be something that we do regularly and voluntarily, but it is likely that there are many drivers on the road today whose eyesight is not up to standard.
The NHS recommends that everyone should have eye tests, but a recent survey by Churchill Insurance suggests that 25% of drivers have not had an eye test in the last two years, and a worrying 21% have said they had a near miss because they were not wearing their glasses.
Mandatory testing would likely see these drivers have their licences taken away and make the roads safer for everyone else. Testing reaction times would also have the same effect, and may even alert some drivers to medical conditions that they were otherwise unaware of.
Given that mandatory testing such as this would probably need to be paid for by the drivers themselves, it seems like this could generate funds for the government, but perhaps not as much as keeping as many drivers as possible on the road.
Do I still need to tell the DVLA if I have had my glaucoma corrected?
