Drivers over the age of 70 will be banned from UK roads if they fail compulsory eye tests under new plans.

In what would be the most radical overhaul of driving rules in almost 20 years, the Government is also looking to reduce the legal drink-drive limit, and issue penalty points for passengers who refuse to wear a seatbelt.

The new measures will be outlined in a new road safety strategy set to be published in autumn.

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According to a recent coroner's report on the deaths of four people who were killed on the roads with poor eyesight, the UK had the "laxest" rules in Europe when it came to allowing individuals to self-report failing sight.

Official figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), meanwhile, reveal that the risk of motorists being killed or seriously injured tripes after turning 75 years old.

Since 2010, the number of over-60 drivers involved in car accidents resulting in death or serious injury has increased by almost 50 per cent.

Under the new plans being drawn up by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, over-70s will be required to undergo a mandatory eye test every three years when re-applying for their license.

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Official figures published by the Department for Transport revealed that the risk of motorists being killed or seriously injured tripes after turning 75-years-old

Alongside an eye test, elderly drivers may be subject to medical tests for conditions like dementia.

DfT figures also highlighted 1,633 deaths in the UK from road traffic accidents last year and 28,000 being left seriously injured.

The drink-drive limit is expected to be reduced to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - down from 35 micrograms.

Under the new plans, the Government is expected to give the police more powers to prosecute drug-drivers by enabling them to conduct saliva tests at the roadside for evidence, as opposed to blood tests.

The move comes after a sharp 78 per cent rise in people killed on the UK's roads with drugs in their systems.

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The drink-drive limit is expected to be reduced to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - down from 35 micrograms

The radical changes would also potentially see an increase in criminal penalties for drivers without insurance and tougher measures to crack down on "ghost plates" that can't be detected by number-plate recognition cameras.

A Government source told The Times: “It cannot be right that one person is killed or seriously injured on our roads every 18 minutes.

“Just think of the impact on those people and their families. We cannot sit by and simply do nothing.”

President of the AA, Edmund King, said an overhaul in road safety measures was "long overdue".

He said: “In other countries, such as Australia and Canada, the introduction of new measures to help young drivers have reduced death and serious injury from between 20 per cent and up to 40 per cent.

"Hence if the UK scheme saw similar reductions, it is estimated that at least 58 deaths and 934 serious injuries could be prevented each year.”

The new road strategy is set to be published in the autumn and will face a public consultation on the new measures.

However, it is expected that certain elements of it will require primary legislation.