Drivers older than 70 face taking eye tests every three years and could be banned if they fail them under planned new motoring laws.
The radical proposals could also see the the drink-drive limit in England in Wales lowered from 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22mg per 100ml, as it is in Scotland.
The government's plans are expected to be published this autumn, with some insiders suggesting that the motoring shake-up could be as drastic as those brought in by Sir Tony Blair in 2008, when he announced the Road Safety Act.
It could bring stricter punishments for uninsured drivers as well as motorists whose passengers fail to wear a seatbelt, if they already have points on their license.
There could also be tests for medical conditions like dementia introduced to assess a person's fitness to drive.
