The DVLA has launched a national eyesight awareness campaign where drivers will be encouraged to take the number plate test.
This involves checking that drivers can read a number plate from 20 metres away, with five car lengths or eight parking bays being two ways of measuring the distance. They are also encouraging anyone with any concerns about their eyesight to visit their optician or optometrist for a test.
Dr Wyn Parry, the DVLA’s senior doctor, said: ‘The number plate test is a simple and effective way for people to check that their eyesight meets the required standards for driving. The easiest and quickest way to do this is to work out what 20 metres looks like at the roadside… and then test yourself on whether you can clearly read the number plate. It’s an easy check to perform any time of day at the roadside and takes just a couple of seconds.
‘Having good eyesight is essential for safe driving, so it’s really important for drivers to have regular eye tests. Eyesight can naturally deteriorate over time so anyone concerned about their eyesight should visit their optician – don’t wait for your next check-up.’
This announcement from the DVLA was inspired by Vision Express’ campaign Eye Tests Save Lives, which has won support from road safety charity Brake.
Jonathan Lawson, CEO at Vision Express, said: ‘It's a positive first step to see the DVLA spearheading a public awareness campaign to encourage drivers to take their eye health seriously – something Vision Express has been campaigning for.’
The number plate test was introduced more than 80 years ago and eye testing has advanced quite significantly since that time.
Lawson added: ‘The NHS recommends people should have an eye test every two years, so we would encourage the DVLA to remind drivers that whilst passing the number plate check might be the legal limit, the government's own advice is to have a full eye health check with a qualified optometrist.’
Weak UK test
MP Jack Dromey commended the effort behind the campaign, but said: ‘The truth is that too many people are still dying and being seriously injured on our roads because of poor driver eye health.
‘The UK’s number plate test remains one of the weakest eyesight tests used by any country in Europe. I would encourage the government to focus instead on making sure drivers get their eyes tested regularly and consider reviewing the efficacy of the number plate test.’
The GOC published a vision and driving report in October last year, which focused on GOC registrants and the public in relation to vision and safe driving.
A total of 83% of survey respondents did not think that the current system adequately protected the public from either causing a road accident or being in one.
Suggestions to improve the current system included 40% of respondents believing that all drivers should undertake compulsory vision tests at regular intervals and 30% thinking that practitioners should have more power to report patients to the DVLA.
A further 21% said there should be less reliance on drivers self-reporting, as some will not inform the DVLA of any vision changes as they do not wish to lose their licence.
Currently, there is no legal requirement for drivers to go for regular eyesight tests. The GOC survey participants were aware that a person’s eyesight deteriorates over time and may end up becoming vastly different when they are older compared to when they passed their test, with one member of the public commenting: ‘It’s crazy that you can pass your driving test at the age of 17 and then never need to do any more checks for it ever again.’
A Vision Express survey of 2,000 UK adults in 2016 highlighted that 75% of people want a recent eye test to be mandatory when renewing a driving licence. It also revealed that two-thirds of the 92% who believe they meet the legal eyesight requirement for driving actually failed to identify what it was, suggesting a need for a campaign like this.
Many drivers put off going for an eye test for fear of losing their licence
Eye test reminder
The government announced last year that the DVLA has introduced an eye test reminder when motorists renew their photocard driving licence every 10 years if you’re under 70, and every three years if you’re aged over, but this may not be enough as there is an increase every year in the number of drivers on the road, potentially leading to more accidents.
Specsavers agreed that some drivers do put off having regular eye tests, and it has been working in partnership with RNIB to educate members of the public on eye health and the importance of regular eye tests. One of their campaigns included the Eye Pod, which the two organisations toured around the UK last year during National Eye Health Week in order to highlight issues with eye sight and how tests can help reduce avoidable sight loss.
A spokesperson from Specsavers said: ‘From all the work we have done with RNIB we know that there are many reasons why people can put off going to the optician and that is why we have invested millions of pounds over the past few years in raising awareness of the importance of eye health.’
The spokesperson added: ‘It’s good to see this initiative from the DVLA as it is another way of raising the importance of eye tests in general and specifically vision standards for drivers. It is very clear from the campaign that people should visit their optician if they have any concerns about their eyesight, and that’s important.’
Indeed, optometrists from Specsavers and every other optical practice will recommend patients having regular eye tests every two years, a stark difference to the DVLA reminding drivers to have one every 10 years.
