The UK media is reporting that a new road safety strategy is set to be published by the UK government this autumn.
It is expected to include over-70s being required to pass a compulsory eye test to keep their licence, potential medical tests for conditions like dementia, and stricter rules for drink-driving.
A Traffic & Highway Services spokesman would not be drawn on whether it would be considering similar measures.
‘We will liaise with our counterparts at the UK Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency about this and monitor how these proposals develop,’ he said.
Currently people are required to notify Driver & Vehicle Licensing if they are diagnosed with conditions like Parkinson’s, heart problems, dementia or cataracts.
The conditions list is quite lengthy, including Aids, autism and cancer, and is not exhaustive, with drivers urged to contact the DVL if they are not sure.
The website states that it is down to the licensee to voluntarily offer up this information.
The spokesman said it was important for the DVL to have this information.
‘Given the potential serious consequences of a road user not being fit to drive, it is a criminal offence to make a false declaration, or fail to provide information,’ he said.
‘However, we believe that most drivers do declare medical conditions that may affect driving and DVL has a good working relationship with doctors and other medical professionals who can give advice to drivers about notification of conditions.’
Large goods vehicle drivers are required to have a medical every five years from the age of 45 and every year from 65.
But there is no similar requirement for cars.
Full driving licences are issued for up to 10 years, but this can be reduced due to several factors, including age, driving categories and any relevant medical conditions.
Drivers are required to be able to read a registration plate at 22.5 metres in good daylight, which can be done wearing glasses. This declaration is then made by the licensee whenever a licence is made or renewed, but it is not tested.
The THS spokesman said all drivers were recommended to have periodic eyesight tests to ensure that they meet the minimal eyesight standards to drive, and report any relevant diagnosis to DVL.
A Bailiwick Law Enforcement spokesman said it was not possible to draw together the figures to determine what age people involved with traffic collisions were.
‘Guernsey Police deal with all types of RTC, involving all types of road users,’ he said.
‘Officers can carry out an eye test, if it is a related factor in investigating a collision.’
If there is a problem with the eyesight, then the police can inform the licence-issuing authority, which can then revoke the licence.
Guernsey’s drink-drive limit is 35mcg per 100ml of breath, the same as England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has been at that level since at least the 1989 law came into place. However, that is higher than Scotland, which is 22mcg per 100ml of breath.
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