Road safety research highlights sight tests

New research from RSA Insurance and the Optical Confederation has found that poor vision results in nearly 3,000 casualties in the UK each year and costs nearly £33m.

The Healthy Eyes, Safer Roads report also found that drivers that fell below the minimum standards of vision were 15 per cent more likely to crash their vehicle, but in many cases drivers were unaware of their poor or deteriorating eye health. The report urged drivers to have regular eye tests and called on policymakers to ensure more eye tests take place.

Mark Nevin, on behalf of the Optical Confederation, said: ‘Sight loss and road crashes are two major and interlinked public health challenges. Both are also largely avoidable and an excellent first step to addressing them is to encourage regular sight tests for all drivers. We urge local authorities, the public health community and local eye health networks to work together to relay this message to drivers and the general public.’