UK driving licence at 70: will I need a health check? Renewal frequency every three years

Flugelhorn

Albermarle said:

QrizB said:

Coincidentally, it seems there are plans for compulsory eye tests for over-70 driving licence renewals:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yllgezjk3o

Motorists over 70 could be banned from the roads if they fail compulsory eye tests, as part of a radical shake-up of driving laws in England and Wales.
Plans also include reducing the drink-driving limit in both countries to be in line with Scotland's laws, and introducing penalty points for passengers not wearing a seatbelt.
The move comes after an inquest into four deaths caused by drivers with failing eyesight saw a coroner call the UK's licensing system the "laxest in Europe".
The changes are expected to be included in a new road safety strategy set to be published by the government in the autumn, with ministers believing that the current safety messaging is not working.

Maybe your thread was prescient?

Apparently you should be OK if you are long or short sighted as glasses can easily correct this. Also OK if you are colour blind. They are really looking to stop people driving who have serious eyesight/disease, which makes sense for the driver and the rest of us.

definitely - anything that can be corrected is OK - I used to check the eyesight in HGV tests and anything marginal I advised to go to the optometrist (has changed now and they all go) - a couple cam back with glasses, had no idea there was a problem but were glad to have got it sorted out 

 one real problem can be field loss and this is difficult to test properly without the right equipment and the person themselves is unlikely to know 

Yorkie1

It's scary just how bad your general eyesight has to be in order to fail an eye test.

Admittedly many years ago, I broke my glasses and needed to use a most-recent pair while replacing them. I did pop into a local opticians to check that the glasses were legal for my eyesight, given that I was having to squint at road signs. Yes, they said, you're absolutely fine!! 

luvchocolate

I have eye tests every year I'm 73 and recently renewed driving licence 
I've not driven for 7 years as I now live in the town centre but keep it updated for ID as I let my passport expire