diff --git a/src/_pytest/_io/terminalwriter.py b/src/_pytest/_io/terminalwriter.py
index 7bd8507c2..124ffe795 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/_io/terminalwriter.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/_io/terminalwriter.py
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@ class TerminalWriter:
                 assert file is not None
         self._file = file
         self.hasmarkup = should_do_markup(file)
-        self._chars_on_current_line = 0
         self._width_of_current_line = 0
         self._terminal_width = None  # type: Optional[int]
 
@@ -97,11 +96,6 @@ class TerminalWriter:
     def fullwidth(self, value: int) -> None:
         self._terminal_width = value
 
-    @property
-    def chars_on_current_line(self) -> int:
-        """Return the number of characters written so far in the current line."""
-        return self._chars_on_current_line
-
     @property
     def width_of_current_line(self) -> int:
         """Return an estimate of the width so far in the current line."""
@@ -159,10 +153,8 @@ class TerminalWriter:
         if msg:
             current_line = msg.rsplit("\n", 1)[-1]
             if "\n" in msg:
-                self._chars_on_current_line = len(current_line)
                 self._width_of_current_line = get_line_width(current_line)
             else:
-                self._chars_on_current_line += len(current_line)
                 self._width_of_current_line += get_line_width(current_line)
 
             if self.hasmarkup and kw:
diff --git a/src/_pytest/terminal.py b/src/_pytest/terminal.py
index d46456733..39deaca55 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -550,11 +550,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
     @property
     def _width_of_current_line(self):
         """Return the width of current line, using the superior implementation of py-1.6 when available"""
-        try:
-            return self._tw.width_of_current_line
-        except AttributeError:
-            # py < 1.6.0
-            return self._tw.chars_on_current_line
+        return self._tw.width_of_current_line
 
     def pytest_collection(self) -> None:
         if self.isatty: