The new licence laws may be a step in the right direction, but they are confusing.
For those of you who may have missed it, the latest 'Euro-isation' is to introduce by 2012 'appropriate investigation' of motorists' eyesight when they take their initial driving test and when they renew.
Drivers who hold a commercial licence would have to have an eye examination every five years and private licence holders every 10-15 years.
Having been involved in the long-running Specsavers' Drive Safe Roadshow, where I have had the opportunity to talk to the public at large about their driving habits, I was shocked when our research revealed that onein threedrivers are unlikely to meet the minimum driving requirement.
Out of interest, the French National Association for the Improvement of Sight (Association Nationale de l'Amélioration de la Vue) put its figure at onein five.
While the new directive is one that we all should be welcoming as an initial step, isn't it likely to lead to confusion and possibly undermineour efforts to encourage more regular sight testing?
As professionals we are advising most of our patients to have sight tests every two years and this is echoed by the willingness of the family practitioners' committeesto reimburse us.
How then, can it be appropriate for the directive to give the minimum re-test time for non-commercial drivers as 10-15 years? Aren't we in danger of giving mixed messages about the importance of regular testing? Shouldn't there be a general agreement?
A 10-15 year recommendation is a step back in terms ofhow we are trying to educate the public.
Are we going to have to rely on the insurance companies to add the additional pressure with the annual question of visual fitness to drive?
'Your new specs look great on you Mrs Normal. Please come and see us if you have any questions or experience any problems.
'Otherwise, we'll see you again in twoyears, unless, of course, you are a driver in which case it will be 10-15 years.'