Elderly drivers 'should be looking at' compulsory eyesight tests every time they renew their licence

Polling from YouGov indicates that 65 per cent of Britons support mandatory driving re-tests for people over 70, while only 29 per cent oppose the proposal.

To be able to drive, motorists must be able to read a number plate made after September 1, 2001, from 20 metres, using glasses or contact lenses if necessary.

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They also need to meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale.

The road safety expert revealed an anecdote from when he was a police officer of an 89-year-old man who drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway for over a mile, killing a 28-year-old.

Heard noted: "In our investigation, we found he was actually blind in one eye and below the legal eyesight limit in the other, but he felt he was fit and healthy to drive on the road.

"Certainly when we get to the age of 70, rather than just ticking the box that we’re fit and healthy to drive, thinking about it and maybe going out and getting an assessment.

"At the age of 70, I think we should be looking at having one with every renewal," he told The Times.

Drivers are required to renew their licence every three years when they turn 70, rather than every 10 years for other age groups.

This is usually when drivers are more susceptible to illnesses and may not be as able as they once were behind the wheel, requiring them to renew more often.

It also allows them to declare whether they have developed a "notifiable" medical condition or disability or if their condition has worsened since they got their licence.

This is especially important as drivers can be fined up to £1,000 if they do not tell the DVLA about a condition that could impact their ability to drive safely.

More serious punishments could be handed down if they have an accident and have not informed the DVLA, potentially leading to a prosecution.

The Older Drivers Forum has created the Police Fitness to Drive Assessment, which is used when someone is accused of careless driving and given a course instead of facing prosecution.

There are three outcomes, with the first being that they are safe to drive. The second is that they are unsafe and should retire from driving and have their licence revoked by the DVLA.

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The third suggests they are safe, but a bad driver and should instead take lessons. They can then assess whether they are safe and can continue or should give up their licence.

Research from the Department for Transport found that 23 per cent of road collision deaths were among those aged 70 or over.