Welsh police carry out roadside sight checks

Last week most of the national newspapers and many regional titles reported on a drivers' vision trial undertaken in South Wales.

The survey, organised by the National Public Health Service for Wales, tested the vision of 300 drivers on the A40 near Abergavenny. A spokesman for NPHS said he hoped the exercise would be repeated and extended throughout Wales. Lancashire Constabulary is also reported to be planning roadside checks.

The Welsh trial, conducted jointly by Gwent Police and the ophthalmology department at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, used number plates positioned at varying distances to check drivers' visual acuity. The drivers remained in the car and were quizzed by the ophthalmology team on a range of issues relating to eye care.