A senior coroner recently said the current rules are too relaxed, after investigating fatal crashes involving drivers with poor vision.
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00:00In the northeast, new driving rules for older motorists are being considered.
00:09These would require people over seventy to take regular eyesight tests to prove they
00:13are safe to drive.
00:15Right now drivers simply self-report any vision issues to the DVLA with no mandatory test.
00:20That has come under fire from a senior coroner who said the system is one of the most relaxed
00:25in Europe.
00:26He issued the warning after four people were killed in accidents involving drivers with
00:30poor sight.
00:31Officials are now looking into whether regular eye checks could reduce the risk.
00:35A full road safety strategy is expected later in the year.
00:39According to a YouGov poll, 28 percent of people in the northeast strongly support retesting
00:44older drivers, while 35 percent somewhat support the idea.
00:49But others say medical checks should be based on health, not age alone.
00:53The proposals remain under review while evidence is gathered.