Eyesight Rules for Drivers
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has conducted new research into driver eyesight. They found that 45.8 percent of drivers know the legal eyesight requirement to drive safely.
Drivers must be able to read a car number plate from 20M away. This allows them to pass the eyesight segment of their test and drive safely.
If a driver needs glasses or contact lenses, they must be worn for every journey.
Out of 1,623 drivers surveyed, less than half knew the legal requirements.
- 20% believed the distance to be 15 meters
- 28% percent believed it to be 25 meters
- 6% of drivers didn’t know what the required distance was at all
National Eye Health Week
National Eye Health Week has launched a campaign to remind drivers to check their eyesight. This is to ensure they meet the legal requirements.
Comment
Lynette Rose, director of strategy, policy and communications at DVLA said:
“The number plate test is a simple and effective way for motorists to check their eyesight meets the required standard for driving, which includes reading a number plate clearly from 20 meters. Anyone can do the test at any time. Twenty meters is typically around the length of five cars parked next to each other – you can test yourself on whether you can clearly read the number plate of the furthest car.”
What are the penalties?
Driving without required wearing glasses or contact lenses could see you rack up a fine up to £1000 and three penalty points.
Research from GEM Motoring Assist in 2020 found over 3,000 fatal and serious accidents are linked to poor eyesight each year.
Further research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says around 1.8milion drivers currently have vision below the legal standard to drive safely without glasses or contact lenses.
Useful Links
For more information or driving safely and penalties linked to eyesight, go to https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rule/
Eyesight Rules for Drivers
