Almost 90 per cent of drivers believe that compulsory eye tests would cut collisions and make Britain’s roads safer, the latest figures have revealed.
The only current sight assessment for drivers is reading a numberplate from 20 metres away during their driving test – a measure that has been not seen significant change for 80 years.
This is despite Department for Transport figures showing that “uncorrected, defective eyesight” was cited as a contributory factor in 232 reported injury-causing road accidents in 2015, 10 of which were fatal. A further 54 people were seriously injured.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety, said: “There are no official statistics for the number of drivers and motorcyclists on the road with eyesight that fails to meet the minimum legal standards, but some studies suggest two per cent to three per cent of drivers have vision below the minimum legal standards.”
He added: “It’s essential that drivers meet the legal eyesight standard for driving, otherwise they are putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk.”
While motorists are required by law to meet the appropriate eyesight standard or wear corrective measures, a spokesman for the DVLA said that there are currently no plans to introduce compulsory eyesight tests. However, 87 per cent of the survey’s 1,097 respondents believe it would lead to safer roads.
“Introducing compulsory eyesight tests would put the majority of drivers who already ensure they can meet the legal eyesight standards for driving to considerable inconvenience and expense,” said the spokesman.
“The number plate test is a simple and effective assessment of vision and can be reproduced regularly by motorists to check whether they meet the standards themselves and by the police at the roadside.”
Road safety officer at GEM Motoring Assist, which undertook the survey, Neil Worth argued that with more older people than ever behind and an increase in traffic levels, regular testing is vital.
“Even DVLA guidelines to medical professionals state that eyesight can decline gradually and unnoticed, with people losing up to 40 per cent of their visual acuity without being aware of deterioration,” he said.
“The time has come to accept that the current driver eyesight test simply isn’t fit for purpose. What’s more, it is certainly no longer acceptable for drivers to self-certify.
“The most practical measure would be a test of visual acuity and field of view every 10 years, which would fit in with licence renewal, making it practical and enforceable.”
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This article was written by Laura Thomson from PA Motoring Service and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com
