The Commissioner spoke on BBC Radio Foyle’s morning programme this morning to discuss the issue of road safety and proposals to introduce mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over. The following statement sets out the Commissioner’s position on these issues:
“Road safety must always be the priority for everyone who uses our roads. Older people are experiencing serious harm on our roads, both as drivers and as pedestrians, and that reality deserves careful attention and thoughtful discussion.
“Although older drivers are less likely to be involved in serious or fatal collisions compared to young car drivers, they are more physically vulnerable when incidents occur and often face more significant injuries and longer recovery times. For that reason, it is important that older people take steps to protect their own safety and wellbeing when travelling.
“Discussions about road safety have led to proposals such as mandatory eye testing, and these deserve careful consideration. Driving ability varies from person to person, not from age to age and fitness to drive should be based on ability and health, not age alone. A fairer and more proportionate approach would be mandatory vision checks for all drivers at licence renewal, regardless of age. That would recognise that safety issues do not begin at 70 and would avoid singling out one age group.
“Any changes to driving policy must be evidence-based, proportionate and justifiable. Targeting older people for retesting purely on the basis of age risks undermining their rights and independence without clear evidence that it will deliver meaningful improvements in road safety.”
