The Government is set to shake up the rules of the road as it believes current guidelines are not working – see how you will be affected
Drivers need to get up to speed on new motoring changes the Government is set to roll out. Ministers are on the brink of bringing in a raft of road safety and driving reforms, as many believe the current safety messaging isn’t hitting home.
Experts at LeaseLoco.com have highlighted the key changes and proposals drivers need to be clued up on in the near future, including tighter drink-drive limits and compulsory eye tests. The Government has pledged to drastically overhaul driving laws in England and Wales, following 1,633 road deaths in 2024 and 128,375 casualties of all severities, which set the NHS back more than £2bn each year.
One of the main proposals is to slash the legal drink-drive limit from the existing 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to just 22 micrograms. This would bring England and Wales in line with the stricter limit already in place in Scotland.
In a bid to bolster drug-driving enforcement, the Government is suggesting that police should be able to use roadside saliva tests as evidence, rather than depending on blood samples. Furthermore, mandatory eyesight checks are poised to be introduced for drivers over 70 when renewing their driving licence every three years.
Another suggestion involves drivers facing penalty points when passengers in their car fail to wear seatbelts, reports Chronicle Live.
John Wilmot, chief executive of LeaseLoco.com, praised the Government’s commitment to road safety. He said: “These new proposals show that the Government is serious about making our roads safer. Lowering the drink-drive limit, introducing eyesight checks for older drivers, and making drug-driving easier to enforce are all important steps for preventing accidents and protecting all road users.”
He added: “Being aware of these potential reforms now means drivers can plan ahead and make more responsible choices to ensure they’re fully compliant when the new rules come into effect. These changes might sound a bit daunting at first, but really they’re about keeping everyone safer and more accountable.”
Four changes drivers should prepare for
Reduced drink-driving limits
As mentioned earlier, the legal drink-drive threshold is set to drop from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22 micrograms. This change hopes to cut alcohol-related crashes and promote more responsible behaviour behind the wheel.
Mandatory eyesight checks
Drivers aged over 70 will need to complete vision tests every three years during licence renewal. The measure aims to guarantee elderly drivers meet the sight requirements essential for safe motoring.
Penalties for passengers not wearing seat belts
Motorists may be slapped with penalty points if their passengers fail to buckle up, underlining the driver’s responsibility for the safety of all occupants in their vehicle, not just themselves.
Drug-driving enforcement
In terms of drug-driving enforcement, police could soon utilise roadside saliva tests to identify offenders, rather than having to send blood samples off for laboratory analysis. This proposed change aims to speed up enforcement and more effectively discourage hazardous conduct on the roads.
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