Commenting on the publication of the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, Matthew Maxwell Scott, Executive Director of ACSO, said:
“There is a lot to like in this rather overdue strategy, not least in proposed improvements to the eyesight-testing regime for drivers, something some of us have campaigned for over many years.
“The UK is something of an outlier in this regard, being one of only a handful of European countries that demands neither a proper test before being awarded a license nor ongoing tests, especially when drivers get older and eyesight deteriorates more rapidly.
“The NHS advises that all adults have their eyesight and eye health checked every two years, so the shift in Department for Transport policy from saying this need not happen at all to it should happen at least every three years for those aged over 70 is a positive move.
"While much of the detail will depend on the various consultations published alongside the strategy, anything which can help tackle drink and drug driving, the rate of more serious injury amongst younger drivers and the particular challenges faced by vulnerable road users is welcome.
“It is welcome to see that all types of vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists and horse riders, are included in the government’s thinking, and while a decision on the long-term status of escooters has again been ducked, it is also positive that new forms of transport are being considered.
“It is difficult to see what the new ‘Road Safety Board’ will achieve if it only meets once a year, but it must include representatives of those from the insurance and wider claims sector who can offer valuable insight into what happens in the event of injury after road-traffic collisions.
“The insurance industry in particular should use its data and reach amongst motorists for the common good, identifying claims trends and using this to help shape safety policy.
“It is also essential that the voice of injured people is heard, both to underline the risks of what can happen when things go wrong, but also to share ideas and experiences than can help ensure we can all be safer in future.”