How the new road safety measures will affect you

The UK government has launched its first major road safety strategy in more than a decade, aiming to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads.

The changes apply to England and Wales only; some are already in force in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The measures will be open to public consultation, but here are the government’s main proposals and how they may affect you.

Drivers over 70 years old Their vision may need to be checked every three yearsrather than simply declaring that their eyesight is good enough to get behind the wheel.

Drivers must be able to read the license plate from a distance of 20 meters, but they do not need to provide proof of this.

NHS eye tests are free for people over 60 across the UK.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has also pledged to “develop cognitive testing options for older drivers”.

What student drivers may encounter Learning period of at least up to six months between taking theoretical and practical exams.

Currently, novice drivers can book a practical test as soon as they pass the theory test.

The government believes that the minimum period between the theory test and the practical test will help learner drivers improve their skills, including driving in different conditions.

This change is not finalized; The government will be subject to public consultation before making a decision.

The proposed learning period will include formal lessons with a driving instructor, as well as informal learning that people can do with their parents or guardians.

Evidence from other countries shows that minimum learning periods can reduce crashes by up to 32%.

Learner drivers currently face a wait of around six months to take practical tests due to a backlog resulting from the Covid outbreak. The backlog is expected to continue until the end of 2027.

The DfT has proposed reducing the alcohol limit for novice drivers and those on a two-year probationary period from 80mg to around 20mg per 100ml of blood.

For all other drivers the level will be reduced to approximately 50 mg. This is the current border in Scotland.

The current limit in England and Wales is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.

It’s hard to say how much drinking this means because people process alcohol differently depending on factors such as their age and weight.

The strategy also proposes a new requirement for certain drink-driving offenders to have their vehicles fitted with “alcolocks” (devices that prevent the vehicle from being started or driven unless the driver fails a breath test).

Fitting them to a criminal’s car would be a condition of him being allowed to drive again.

They are currently used in many countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the USA.

Penalties for drunk driving will also be reviewed.

The process of learning to ride a motorcycle can be overhauled after a consultation.

This could include changes to existing Compulsory Basic Training and government-funded programs to ensure motorcyclists wear helmets safely.

The government also wants to commission new pilots of Project Prime, an initiative to help motorcyclists ride safer on rural roads.

Enforcement of road regulations will be updated to “penalize the most dangerous road users”.

Proposed ways of doing this include new powers to suspend the licenses of people suspected of drink or drug driving until they appear in court. People currently on bail for these offenses are free to continue driving.

Drivers will be given penalty points for not wearing seat belts or driving with children who do not wear seat belts.

It is planned to impose harsher penalties on those who drive without insurance or inspection, as well as those who use “ghost” license plates that cannot be read by recognition cameras.