One in three UK drivers believe motorists should be required to retake their driving test at the age of 70, according to new research from The Green Insurer.

The survey, which explored public sentiment around road safety and age-related driving ability, found a notable generational divide on the issue, with younger drivers strongly favouring stricter testing for older road users.

Sit down

The Green Insurer Study reveals that 33% of respondents support compulsory test resits at 70, while an even larger proportion (46%) believe that older drivers should at least undergo mandatory eye tests.

Just 17% believe that the over-70s should face no additional checks or assessments, suggesting overwhelming public support for some form of reassessment for senior drivers.

The generational divide in opinion is stark.

Among drivers aged 34 and under, 57% support complete test retakes at 70.

In contrast, only 11% of those aged 65 and over agree with that proposal.

This divide reflects differing perceptions of risk and ability — while older drivers are often statistically safer in some respects, concerns persist about slower reaction times, declining eyesight, and cognitive impairments associated with ageing.

Ageing population

The UK’s driver population is ageing rapidly.

There are currently 5.6 million drivers aged 70 or over. That number is expected to increase significantly over the coming decades as life expectancy rises and more people continue driving into their 80s and beyond.

Currently, UK law requires drivers over 70 to renew their licence every three years, self-declaring that they are medically fit to drive. However, no formal medical or driving assessments are mandated, which critics argue leaves too much room for risk.

Road safety focus

Road safety campaigners have long argued for more robust checks on senior drivers, particularly in light of recent crash data and distressing media headlines involving older drivers.

According to the Department for Transport, 1,645 people were killed on UK roads in the year ending June 2023, with a further 27,450 seriously injured.

While older drivers are involved in fewer high-speed collisions than younger drivers, they are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries in crashes due to physical vulnerability.

Paul Baxter, CEO of The Green Insurer, commented: “While many older motorists are among the safest on the roads, our findings show a growing sentiment that more needs to be done to ensure their ongoing fitness to drive. As the population ages, we must strike a balance between maintaining road safety and supporting the independence of older citizens.”

He added that future reforms should be coupled with affordable, accessible transport alternatives for seniors who may no longer feel confident or safe behind the wheel.

Calls for retesting older drivers continue to gain traction.

Initiatives such as voluntary local authority-run driving assessments for older drivers are considered a positive move forward.

Despite their popularity and success, cuts to local authority funding have seen many of these schemes closed down.

Combining innovative and legislative policies is an essential area of focus for road safety as the population ages and the proportion of older drivers on the road increases.

Alongside this is the need to monitor the adverse realities of age-related medical conditions and prescribed drug use by older drivers more effectively to negate potentially dangerous situations.