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.
Some tense discussions will be taking place in the offices of the offending, as yet, unnamed manufacturer of the software.
And there are broader policy lessons. The DVLA’s decision to award its fields contract to Specsavers met with hostility from some quarters. At the time, the DVLA noted that along with cost saving, having a single contract made it easier to cascade messages, ensure consistency and apply standards. Rectifying this issue is now a simple process Specsavers has implemented. The DVLA’s decision has been vindicated.
As for technology replacing people? That debate will continue to rage.
