Drivers' standards still lag behind Europe

A period of confusion and uncertainty about how the recent European regulations on driving and vision will be incorporated into UK law has been highlighted by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

It informed members of new Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) visual acuity standards (News 11.05.12) through an online statement last week.

However, it said certain aspects of a European Commission Directive on driving licences from 2009 had still not been met and the voice of the Medical Advisory Panel on driving and visual disorders not heard.

The RCO statement said: 'In response to the recent European Directive, the panel's advice was to retain the statutory number plate test at 20m, but to accept a visual acuity of 6/12 (decimal 0.5) as an alternative should the number plate test be failed.