Chris Bennett: Technology focus for DVLA fields fiasco

High-tech instrumentation is a hot topic at the moment. Has it reached a stage of sophistication, runs the debate, where it can start to take the place of optical professionals in the more mundane areas of routine testing?

That debate may have encountered some choppy water given the erroneous failure of some 600 drivers undergoing DVLA fields testing. The consequences of such a failure are many and varied: Those forced off the road, with the loss of their liberty or even livelihood, may decide to seek redress.

Specsavers has held the DVLA contract since last summer but the fault dates back to 2010, meaning many independents will also have carried out flawed tests.