Eye tests for drivers over 70 on the cards

MOTORING groups have hailed Government plans to overhaul road safety laws as "much overdue", and "a step in the right direction".

- NEIL LANCEFIELD

Ministers are considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales and introducing mandatory eye tests for older drivers, according to The Times.

The proposals, set to be published as part of a road safety strategy in the autumn, also include tougher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seat belt.

On Britain's roads last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010.

Edmund King, AA president, said: "The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety.

"This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade.

"We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone."