A new road safety campaign is set to be introduced in Great Britain this autumn
The UK government has announced plans to make eye tests mandatory for drivers over the age of 70. England and Wales are reportedly set to introduce a new road safety strategy in the autumn, which comes after an inquest was made into four road deaths caused by drivers with failing eyesight.
Plans are also in place to reduce the drink-driving limit and to introduce penalty points for passengers not wearing seat belts. Earlier this week, the Department for Infrastructure told Belfast Live they are aware of the plans, but did not state if they would be introduced in Northern Ireland.
We took to Botanic Gardens in Belfast to ask the public what they think of proposed plans, whether it should be rolled out in Northern Ireland, and whether such eye tests should be compulsory.
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One man told us: “I do believe it’s right. I think you have to do an eye test when you get your license so to reaffirm that when you’re over 70, I don’t think it’s a bad idea.
“As you get older, you need to check your eyes are still working. But I think the onus may well be on yourself rather than the government to be taking that control.”
Another man said it needs to be on a case-by-case basis, and added that there are already safeguards in place for changing health conditions. He said: “You should be looking at people’s capacity to drive irrespective of what their age is. If you’re over 70, you’re more likely to have some degree of visual impairment, but it should be on an individual basis.
“While you’re renewing your license, you have to make a declaration that you have good eyesight, that you have no problems with your health otherwise. So why make a separate piece of legislation whenever DVLA already have that encompassed in the renewal of your license, and you can’t renew it for any more than five years. Why do we need an extra piece of legislation?”
One woman told us she agrees with the move, and would like to see full driving re-tests become common too. She said: “We should be tested, our eyes do deteriorate. I’ve got dreadful eyesight, but I’m not quite there yet, it won’t be long – but I do think it’s a good thing. I do think people should be checked.
“I actually think we should be checked earlier, maybe at around 65. If your eyesight is okay, then you’re going to be allowed to continue, there’s no problem. But then if it’s not, you need to know, some people don’t know how bad their eyes are.
“People will hate me for saying this, but I’m all for having to do another test as well. I do think our eyes should be tested and there should also be a re-test of the driving, it could all happen at the same time.
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