The UK lags behind other European countries in its requirements for testing drivers' eyesight, according to the Report on Driver Vision Screening in Europe released this week.
The report by optical bodies ECOO, EUROM I and EUROMCONTACT, highlighted substantial variation in the assessment of drivers' vision across Europe and recommended that member states, including the UK, make moves to better assess drivers' vision.
The EU has committed to halving road death across the EU by 2020, with the goal to achieve this with legislation that changes driver behaviour, raises the technical standards of vehicles and improves road design. The visual requirements to drive safely in European law are currently being implemented by EU member states, including the UK, which is in consultation at present.
The report stated that many European countries use good systems to assess all drivers' vision, but it noted that the UK and a small number of other countries (Cyprus, France, the Netherlands and Norway) continued to rely on the licence plate test, an outdated assessment of vision, believed not to be consistent with the underlying standards. Among the proposals put forward in the UK government's consultation is retaining this test for car and motorcycle drivers and lowering the current eyesight standard by reducing the distance at which the number plate is read. Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Serbia and Turkey all carry out visual acuity, visual field and visual function tests before issuing a first licence.
The UK is one of six countries that have no requirement for ongoing assessment of vision for these drivers, which is seen as a missed opportunity to improve road safety. It is also one of six countries where the drivers' vision assessment is carried out by a driving test employee, rather than a medical practitioner, ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician.
The report also recommended that the European Commission press those member states that were dragging their feet to implement better screening of drivers' vision before issuing a first licence, and when renewing a driving licence.
Jayne Rawlinson speaking on behalf of the Optical Confederation said: 'The UK is at the bottom of the league when it comes to assessing drivers' eyesight. We have been working to achieve better vision for safer driving in the UK and greatly value the support we have received from other road safety groups. We hope the UK government will use this opportunity to ensure everyone drives with good vision.'
Mark Nevin representing ECOO said: 'The EC should be alert to those member states that are dragging their feet and refusing to implement appropriate assessments of vision, before issuing a first licence and during the driving career. Given that 90 per cent of sensory information when driving comes from vision and poor vision impacts on driving performance, this must be an area with potential to deliver improvements in road safety.'
? A Westminster Hall debate on eyesight testing requirements for drivers was held on Wednesday, introduced by Labour MP Meg Munn and with representation from the Optical Confederation's working group.
Westminster Hall debates enable MPs to discuss an issue without any formal decision or vote at its conclusion.