Police launch roadside vision tests for drivers – those who fail face £1,000 fine and disqualification

ELDERLY and visually impaired drivers are reminded of the importance of regular eye tests – to avoid potential road accidents.

According to new data, two-thirds of drivers who wear glasses or contact lenses are “delaying” their vision correction and could be landed with a £1,000 fine for endangering themselves and other road users.

2

However, according to data from the Association of Optometrists (AOP), most people who need to fix their eyes avoid treatment.

Shocking research has found that nearly a fifth of people who use glasses to drive haven’t checked their eyes in at least three years.

Delaying an eye test for so long could violate road traffic laws if it poses a risk to road safety.

But the AOP also found that one in ten people in the UK say they would keep driving even if their vision was deemed unsafe.

Around 3,000 people are killed or injured in the UK each year by a visually impaired driver.

According to figures from the Department for Transport, more than 42% of road accidents in the UK involving drivers over the age of 70 were due to vision problems.

Police are now planning to conduct roadside vision tests to ensure motorists do not drive with untreated eyesight.

Those who do so could be fined £1,000, get three penalty points on their license and risk a ban.

Drivers stopped by police are asked to read a license plate 20 meters away.

If they fail to complete the task, their license could be revoked.

It is up to motorists to report any deterioration in their eyesight to the DVLA themselves, but the AOP has criticized the government for not taking enough action to make Britain’s roads safer by checking drivers’ eyesight.

Adam Sampson, the chief executive of the AOP, said: “It is deeply worrying that a 17-year-old who can read a number plate from 20 meters away on his driving test is able to continue driving without further checks for the rest of his life.

“We have to wonder why the UK system, which relies on self-declaration and a number plate test, continues to operate under a law first introduced in 1937 to the detriment of a person’s safety.”

“Vision loss can often be gradual and people may not notice any changes that could affect their ability to drive, so it’s important to remember that regular vision tests are an essential part of staying safe as a driver.”

2