Drivers born before 1954 'face £85 bill' under new road safety measures

Drivers over the age of 70 could be required to retake their driving tests at a cost of £85 under new rules. The proposed resit would be recommended by GPs, based on patients' ability to drive safely.

The initiative by charity IAM RoadSmart is designed to address the high number of accidents involving elderly drivers, according to the Department for Transport. Last year's data suggested that drivers over 80 were more likely to be involved in serious accidents than younger drivers.

Currently, drivers over 70 are required to renew their licences every three years. However, the charity claims there are no measures to ensure older drivers meet road safety standards.

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Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy and Standards, expressed concern: "We're concerned there's nothing formally in place to help older drivers who want to keep their driving in check, and moreover, no process for GPs to be able to refer an older driver who they have serious concerns over their ability to drive."

Meanwhile, Age UK has warned against damaging "caricatures" of older drivers, many of whom can drive without issues. This week, motorists over 70 were also warned that if they failed to renew their licences every three years, they could face hefty fines of up to £5000.

They could even face prosecution, with potential community service or prison sentences.

Age UK has clarified: "When you reach the age of 70, your driving licence expires - but this doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop driving. If you want to continue, you just need to renew your licence. You'll need to renew it every three years after that. Renewal is free of charge."

Thankfully, drivers won't have to remember this as they will receive a reminder from the DVLA. Drivers can apply either online or via a physical D46P application form, which will be sent in the post.

To apply, drivers will need their email address, home addresses for the last three years, National Insurance number and UK passport number. Applications are expected to take around three weeks to process once returned.