Mandatory eye test call for drivers

THE number of drivers aged 90 or above has doubled in 10 years, sparking a call for mandatory eye tests to boost road safety.

A record 153,000 Britons in that age group held a full licence in November, PA news agency analysis of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figures has revealed.

The AA has called for drivers to be required to show evidence of regulator eye tests to carry on driving once they reach 70 to “improve road safety”.

The number of over-90s holding licences has risen from 77,000 in November 2013. The increase could be due to a range of factors, such as the ageing population and fewer older drivers giving up their licence.

Drivers are not subjected to mandatory checks of their skills or health once they obtain their licence no matter how old they become, although they are required to inform the DVLA if they are no longer fit to drive.