Half of motorists driving with poor eyesight
More than half of motorists are risking fines and penalty points by driving with poor eyesight, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 car owners carried out by Motorpoint found that 50% of respondents said they would not be able to read a licence plate 20m away, which is the minimum legal requirement in the UK.
Drivers who do not meet minimum eyesight requirements could face fines of up to £1,000 and receive three penalty points on their licence.
The survey comes following calls for the Department for Transport to introduce mandatory in-person testing for older drivers to replace current self-certification for over-70s. This move would be backed by the public, with 28% of drivers agreeing that testing should be every three years, 23% backing yearly tests, and 17% supporting tests every five years.
Mandatory testing
Motorpoint’s Tim Rodie, said: “It’s really encouraging to see how many motorists would be in favour of regular mandatory eye testing for all drivers. This is a simple step that would help keep all road users safe.
“With a significant number of motorists admitting to driving without their glasses and contact lenses, it’s clear that more could be done to encourage drivers to not only keep on top of regular eye tests but making sure they follow the advice of their optometrist when it comes to when they should be wearing their glasses.”
