This year’s Road Safety Week has been marked with a series of campaigns and damning news stories about the roadworthiness of the nation’s eye health.
Around 17 million UK drivers admit they struggle to see at night, with almost a third of vehicle users revealing they refuse to drive in the evening because of reduced light levels.
What is more, research conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) has shown 25% of motorists have trouble focusing at night, with an alarming 43% reporting that they had suffered from blurred vision.
Nigel Best, optometrist and Specsavers Darlington store director, told Optician driving at night is ‘one of the most visually demanding tasks’ we encounter. As well as having to wrestle with reduced visibility and limited peripheral vision, modern xenon headlights have become a menace for drivers who are dazzled by the powerful lights.
‘There are a few specific problems associated with night driving. Firstly, a person’s pupils will dilate, accentuating any focusing problems. Secondly, particularly on unlit roads, the contrast between the dark background and the glare from oncoming headlights can be particularly problematical. Anything that causes the oncoming light to scatter, for example a dirty windscreen or the presence of cataracts will exacerbate this problem,’ said Best.
This year, a Specsavers campaign has focused on the responsibility of employers to look after the health and safety of their employees who drive for work. As part of the scheme, Best (pictured) has provided eye care advice to employees and employers who drive as part of their job.
Ahead of Brake’s Road Safety Week (November 20-26), a host of optical chains and bodies have launched initiatives focusing on the link between eye health and road safety.
New driving laws needed?
With ROSPA reporting that around 40% of all traffic collisions happen at night, with a total of 41,285 accidents reported in 2015, many deem current vision testing insufficient.
This week the Association of Optometrists (AOP) has called for a change in the law that would see all drivers required to prove their vision meets legal standard every 10 years. At present, drivers are required to perform an initial number plate test during their driving exam, then a self-declaration for renewing their licence thereafter, meaning a 17-year-old who can read a number plate from 20 metres away during their practical exam can continue to drive with no further checks for the rest of their life.
Research commissioned by the AOP reported more than one in three optometrists has seen a patient with vision below the legal standard in the past month, who continued to drive against advice.
In light of this, the AOP launched its ‘Don’t swerve a sight test’ campaign this week, recommending that people book an eye exam every two years. Dr Julie-Anne Little (pictured), AOP board member, is one of the 91% of UK practising optometrists who believe the current sight requirements for a driving licence are insufficient.
She said: ‘Because sight changes can be gradual, often people won’t realise their vision has deteriorated over time. This campaign is about reminding drivers that with a visit to their optometrist – they can make sure they meet the standard, and help make our roads safer.’
Drivers’ vision has remained at the forefront of media coverage with each road tragedy that occurs, and this year has been no different. In the weeks leading up to Road Safety Week this year, Optician reported on the deaths of two road users after collisions with drivers who then failed the number plate test.
Meanwhile, six years has passed since the high-profile story of 16-year old Cassie McCord, who died from serious head injuries when 87-year-old Colin Horsfall lost control of his car in Colchester. Horsfall had failed a police eyesight test just days earlier but he could continue driving because of a legal loophole.
After years of campaigning, Cassie’s mother Jackie Rason helped to change the law which now gives officers the power to request an urgent revocation of a driver’s licence. This change, Cassie’s Law, has led to 609 successful revocations to date.
Professional lobbying
Vision Express has also recognised the importance of good eyesight for night-time driving, by showing how vision problems are one of the major contributors to traffic accidents. Research performed by OnePoll has revealed almost 30% of drivers are overdue an eye test, with 4% admitting to never having had one.
As a result, Vision Express has asked MPs to back its call for driver eye health to be a greater political priority, safeguarding both pedestrians and drivers. In support of Road Safety Week since 2015, this year’s Vision Express campaign educated the public about the potential risks that come with of failing to have regular eye tests.
‘The current Highways England strategic plan for road safety is overlooking the fact that eye health is an issue. We know that each year, there are an estimated 2,900 casualties caused by poor driver vision alone,’ said Vision Express CEO Jonathan Lawson (pictured).
‘We are encouraged by parliamentarians’ interest in this issue and plan to continue raising awareness to get our message across about the importance of regular eye tests for drivers,’ he added.
The company has offered free eye tests during the campaign once again, having recorded 9,000 eye test bookings during last year’s Road Safety Week.
Educating night-time drivers about the importance of regular eye checks is an important task which is helping to keep road users safe this winter. But opticians were not the only group within optics helping commuters prepare for the dark ahead of Road Safety Week. Eyewear manufacturers also promoted the technology needed to increase visibility on the roads (see panel).
Although modern technology is helping to improve the vision of those who are forced to commute in the dark, good eye health was the key message given by optical experts this winter.
Indeed, it is only through regular testing that UK motorists can take advantage of the available technology to avoid a nightmare before Christmas.
On the lookout for lenses
Zeiss was one of the first manufacturers to design a lens specifically for drivers. Its latest DriveSafe lenses are available in both single vision and progressive lens types and help motorists to feel safer and more comfortable when behind the wheel. Better vision in low light conditions and reduced glare from oncoming cars or street lights were the key benefits.
Meanwhile, fellow German manufacturer Rodenstock released the Rodenstock Road 2 in 2016. It is a progressive lens with Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV) approval, large visual zones for quick shifts of focus and a 12% filter tint to minimise unpleasant headlight glare.
Also on the market is Essilor’s Road Pilot lens – said to reduce glare from modern headlights, street lights and traffic lights, maximising clear vision. The lens, which has a Crizal Drive anti-reflective coating, was claimed to reduce distracting reflections by up to 90%.
Commercial director Randeep Gill said: ‘This [lens] can be recommended for safety, comfort and confidence but also improved driving given impaired vision means slower reaction times behind the wheel. It’s giving the patient something new and filling a real need.’