UK Introduces New Driver Vision and MOT Photo Checks to Boost Road Safety

The UK government is expanding its road‑safety strategy with two new measures. Police will be given powers to carry out random roadside eyesight tests on any driver, and licences can be revoked by the DVLA if standards are not met. The plan also proposes mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70 and is exploring cognitive assessments for older motorists, aiming to reduce deaths and injuries linked to vision‑related driving failures.

Separately, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will roll out a photo‑capture system for MOT inspections from 3 August. Selected garages will use smartphones or tablets to record a vehicle’s presence during the test, a step intended to curb “ghost MOTs” that have risen sharply in recent years. Around 2,500 garages in Great Britain will receive the capability in the first phase, with further roll‑outs planned.

Both initiatives target the prevention of unsafe vehicles and drivers on UK roads, strengthening enforcement and deterrence mechanisms.