33,000 drivers have licences revoked or refused ahead of rule change

33,000 drivers have licences revoked or refused ahead of rule changeA new consultation could see stricter rules introducedCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)13:49, 14 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesThere are strict standards all drivers need to meetNearly 33,000 motorists have had their driving licences revoked or applications refused due to failing to meet legal eyesight standards over the last four years. The figures come as the government enters the final weeks of a consultation on mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70.‌While older drivers (aged 70–79) accounted for the highest number of revocations, more than 6,500 drivers under the age of 55 also lost their licences, highlighting that vision deterioration is not just a concern for the elderly. Under current regulations, police have the authority to carry out immediate roadside eyesight tests. Drivers who fail the '20-metre' number plate test can have their licences revoked on the spot via a fast-track notification to the DVLA.‌Simon England, expert and founder at ALA Insurance, warns that many drivers may be unknowingly operating vehicles with poor vision due to the gradual nature of eye health decline. He said: "Losing your licence is life-changing, but the safety risk of driving with impaired vision is even more severe.‌View 3 ImagesPolice can have you banned instantly"The difficulty is that eyesight often deteriorates so slowly that we don’t notice the change in our day-to-day lives. By the time you realise you're struggling to read a road sign, you may have already been driving below the legal limit for some time."‌Driving with uncorrected defective vision is a serious criminal offence that carries a fine of up to £1,000, three penalty points, and the potential for immediate, on-the-spot licence revocation by the police. Beyond the initial fine, being involved in an accident while failing to meet the legal eyesight standards can lead to far more severe c...