Driving Law Shake-Up Announced

On 11 August 2025, the government announced plans for a comprehensive and radical shake-up of current driving laws. 

The proposed sweeping reforms aim to address the evolving challenges of road use in a rapidly changing society; here we explore the proposed changes, their motivations, and what they may mean for the millions of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians who share the nation’s roads.

Why reform driving laws now?

The announcement comes at a time where there are numerous forces impacting transport policy in the UK. The government has accepted that the rules need to be reviewed following an inquest into four deaths caused by drivers with failing eyesight.

Rapid advancements in vehicle technology – including the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), increasing numbers of semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles, and the proliferation of micro-mobility options such as e-scooters and e-bikes – the current legislative framework has come under strain and doesn’t adequately address the challenges road-users presently face.

Many laws date back decades and struggle to accommodate the realities of present-day road use.

In addition, the noise around public concerns about road safety, environmental priorities, and the need for more inclusive mobility has got louder and have all contributed to demands for reform. 

The government’s proposals seek to amend the legal landscape to ensure it is fit for the future, aiming to tackle questions about how public roads are currently used and shared.

Key proposals

While details of the proposed legal package are expected to be released for consultation in Autumn 2025, the government has outlined several headline changes and areas under review.

Modernising Licensing Requirements:

Statistically, young drivers are at a much higher risk of road traffic collisions than older drivers. Despite campaigning from numerous pressure groups, the government has confirmed that they have no plans to introduce graduated licensing for new drivers.

For older drivers however, the proposals will impact them:

• periodic re-testing for all drivers aged 75 and above. 
• medical and cognitive assessments of drivers aged 75 and above to ensure continued aptitude for safe driving. 

It is worth noting in this context, the UK is one of only three European countries (Ireland and Romania being the other two) to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving and whilst eyesight problems are more prevalent as people age, it is not a problem that solely affects those above 75 years of age.

Embracing New Technology:

The considered reforms would bring legal clarity and better regulation for new types of vehicles and associated technologies:

• Formal legal status for autonomous vehicles, including the creation of a framework for liability in the event of accidents involving self-driving cars.
• Mandatory advanced driver-assistance systems (known as ADAS) in all newly registered cars from 2028, such as lane-keeping, collision avoidance, and automatic emergency braking.
• Comprehensive licensing and insurance requirements for e-scooters, e-bikes, and other micro-mobility devices, as well as clearer rules for their use on public roads and cycleways.

Road Safety:

The government’s considerations put a renewed emphasis on safety for all road users:

• Lower drink-drive limits across England and Wales bringing them in line with the stricter standards in force in Scotland, expected to be tightened from 35 micrograms (“µg”) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (“mls”) of breath to 22µg of alcohol per 100 mls of breath.
• Mandatory eye tests for drivers over the age of 70
• Enabling police to rely on roadside saliva tests to evidence drug-taking (as opposed to needing to rely on blood tests). Currently, if a roadside saliva test is positive, the accused can be arrested and taken to the police station and asked to provide a blood sample.  The sample is then sent to a lab for analysis and a charge is made after receipt of the results. 
• Tougher penalties for those who drive without insurance.
• Expanded use of speed cameras and average speed checks in urban and rural areas alike.

The government has positioned these reforms as a response to these changing expectations, aiming to future-proof the nation’s roads and improve safety for all.

Consultation

It is anticipated that the consultation will receive input from individuals, advocacy groups, industry, and local authorities. The process, expected to last until early 2026, will inform the final shape of the legislation, with a draft bill anticipated for parliamentary debate in due course.

Commentary

Joanna Onisiforou, Associate in our Regulatory and Criminal Team, comments:

“The proposed shake-up of driving laws in Great Britain marks an ambitious attempt to future-proof the use of roads in the UK. 

“The coming months of consultation and debate will determine the final shape of these reforms – and their impact will likely be felt for generations to come.”