Roadside eye tests carried out by police should ‘benefit road safety’

If there is one thing that all drivers need is good vision. It is a legal minimum eyesight standard that drivers must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres away (with glasses or contact lenses if they usually wear those). If motorists wear glasses or contact lenses then they must wear them every time they drive.

Drivers do not have to declare to the DVLA if they are short-sighted, long-sighted, or colour-blind but they do have to declare a severe eye condition.

However, concerningly two-thirds of drivers in the UK who use glasses delay updating their prescription, according to the Association of Optometrists (AOP).

On top of that, the AOP’s research showed that 20 percent of motorists who need glasses have failed to take an eye test in the last three years. 

Data from the Department for Transport is also very concerning showing that 42 percent of incidents involving drivers over the age of 70 were due to sight issues.

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With that in mind, Dorry Potter, an expert at National Scrap Car, told Express.co.uk that roadside tests set to be carried out by police offices could “benefit road safety”. 

Ms Potter said: “Simply put, if you cannot read a car number plate from 20 metres away then you are not meeting the legal requirements.

“Generally, drivers should have their eyes tested every two years and more occasionally if advised by their optometrist.

“If people are putting off eye tests or not declaring severe eye conditions to the DVLA then they could be putting themselves and other people at risk.”

Adam Sampson, the chief executive at the AOP, said: “It’s deeply concerning that a 17 year-old who can read a number plate from 20 metres away when they take their driving test, may continue to drive with no further checks for the rest of their life.

“We have to ask ourselves why the UK system, which relies on self-reporting and a number plate test, continues to operate under a law first introduced in 1937 to the detriment of an individuals’ safety.

“Sight loss can often be gradual, and people may not notice changes that could affect their ability to drive so it’s important to remember that regular vision checks are an essential part of helping to stay safe as a driver.”

Despite the calls and criticism from the AOP, the DVLA still says that it is the responsibility of the driver to decide when to report an eyesight issue.