More than 900,000 British drivers would fail to meet the basic eyesight standard for driving, according to the Is Your Vision Roadworthy? campaign.
The campaign was a collaboration between motoring organisations, optical associations, eye care charities and police services in England, Scotland and Wales. The Association of Optometrists, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the College of Optometrists, and the Federation of Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians (Fodo) all backed the campaign. It aimed to educate motorists about their legal obligation to ensure their eyesight is fit to drive and make roads safer.
Police officers conducted roadside vision screening checks on motorists between February 27 and March 12, which found 2.2% failed to read a number plate from 20 metres.
Men failed more than women and made up three-quarters of those who failed the number plate test. The average age of those unable to read a number plate from 20 metres was 69.3 years and the youngest driver to fail was 30 years old, while the oldest was 90.
Furthermore, a third of those who failed the number plate test and had been prescribed corrective lenses were not wearing them at the time they were stopped.
Dan Hodgson, head of policy and public affairs at Fodo, said: ‘The stark findings of this research show just how important this campaign is. Ensuring drivers have their sight checked regularly should keep their vision roadworthy. Not only should this reduce road safety issues, but will mean drivers, many of whom are reliant on driving for work and their everyday life, can continue to drive safely.’
Of those who failed the roadside screening tests, 85% of drivers had their licence revoked on the spot under legislation known as Cassie’s Law. A total of 2,420 licences have been revoked using this legislation since it was introduced in 2013.
A sample of 898 motorists was extrapolated to 900,000 using data from the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments.
Personal responsibility
Uncorrected defective eyesight was punishable by a fine of up to £1,000, three penalty points and possible disqualification. It could also invalidate a driver’s insurance.
However, statistics published by the DVLA found only 48.5% were aware of the eyesight standards for driving.
Additionally, 42% of drivers undertaking the roadside vision screening admitted they had not had an eye test in the last two years.
Department of Transport statistics attributed 33,399 casualties over the past decade to road users where glare from sunlight has been among the contributing factors. On average, 653 people were killed or experienced serious injuries each year.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chief Council’s lead for roads policing, said: ‘Personal responsibility is the starting point for safer roads. Making sure your eyesight meets the standards of vision for driving is really important and something only you can do to keep yourself and all other road users safe while driving.’
The campaign highlighted how a driving simulator at Brunel University shows what can happen when people drive with poor eyesight. It found when a driver’s vision was blurred, they struggled to stay in lane, keep a consistent speed or read road signs. When sight was reduced to the legal minimum level, people strayed out of their lane 62% more often than with normal vision.
Subjects also could not recognise 23% of the road signs they passed. Impaired vision also prevented motorists from reacting to hazards and causes fatigue on longer journeys, it said.
The campaign launch coincided with the Mayday bank holiday weekend (28 April to 1 May) when traffic was expected to peak.
Eye Health UK estimated that over the bank holiday period, more than half a million car journeys would be made by drivers whose vision falls below the legal limit, due to an undiagnosed or untreated vision condition or simply because a driver was not wearing the eye wear they have been prescribed for driving.
The campaign highlighted that all motorists have a legal responsibility to ensure they meet minimum eyesight standards every time they drive.
It noted there were different standards depending on the type of vehicle driven and people suffering from certain eye condition, may be required to notify the DVLA or DVA in Northern Ireland.
