Testing, testing

The government has a big road safety bill in the offing.

- MATT SAUNDERS

Need we brace for impact? Perhaps not. As part of it, I understand, we're likely to get lower drink-driving limits and tougher requirements for over-seventies to prove they are still safe on the road.

I’m sure most people would agree that these are overdue - but it’s clearly too simple to suggest that by targeting the youngest and oldest we can transform UK driving standards. Putting aside fear of change for its own sake, we will be hoping there is more to Labour's once-in-a-decade reform of licensing than some compulsory eye tests.

Still, I certainly wouldn't agree with the anonymous UK coroner who, the BBC reported last week, claimed our licensing system is “the laxest in Europe”. We are apparently one of only three European countries that allow drivers to self-report failing eyesight. Dementia and other conditions too. We shouldn't be - but that sounds like a legislative tweak to me and fairly easily corrected.

Not like Sweden's ‘A-traktor’ laws. If you don’t know about these, they might well make you feel at least a little better about how younger drivers qualify to be on UK roads.