New drivers' vision survey causes alarm

A new survey on drivers' vision has prompted the RAC Foundation to write to the Department for Transport to encourage the Government to start 'a high profile publicity campaign' on the dangers of driving with poor vision.
The survey Ð conducted by Specsavers Opticians Ð provides further evidence that Britain's roads are inhabited by Mr Magoo-like motorists.
However, unlike previous roadside surveys, this time the research was carried out inside the Birmingham Motor Show.
Specsavers Opticians tested 3,000 drivers at the event and found that around 738 (24.6 per cent) failed the basic test of being able to read a number plate from 20.5 metres.
The results were reported this week as being more worrying than previous drivers' vision surveys which found less than 20 per cent of motorists fell below the minimum standard.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'It is staggering that a quarter of motorists are willing to get behind the wheel when their eyesight does not meet even the basic legal standards Ð it is vital that drivers have their eyes tested at least every two years.'
He commented that employers have also got an important part to play by ensuring that their fleet drivers get routine check ups. 'There are also insurance companies who offer discounts to drivers who have regular tests.'
A survey by Egg Motor Insurance earlier this month calculated that five million of Britain's drivers would fail the regulation vision test (optician, News, November 8).

The Eyecare Trust presented its statistics Ð which estimated 3.5 million motorists would have difficulty meeting the vision requirement Ð to the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group, David Heath MP, this autumn (News, September 20).