Eyesight

When did you last have your eyes tested?

More than 90% of the information needed to drive comes from the eyes but at least two million drivers on the roads today are unaware that they are at risk.

Many of us do not have regular checks on our eyesight and do not realise it can deteriorate at any time. Without knowing this we are putting ourselves and others at risk on the roads.

Deterioration of eyesight can not only affect your driving skills directly but also can result in tiredness, headaches and road rage due to frustration. All of these can be a danger on the road.

The law

The police are allowed to stop a driver and test their eyesight if they have any reason to think he or she cannot meet the legal standards required for driving, which are:

Drivers who need contact lenses or glasses to correct their vision must always wear them when driving.
Driving with uncorrected defective vision is an offence and there is a potential fine of £1,000 for those caught out. Added to that is the threat of 3 penalty points and possible disqualification for those found breaking the law.
Drivers should be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres (which is about 5 car lengths) in good light. If a driver is asked to do this and cannot meet the required standard, they are committing an offence and as a result their insurance may be invalidated.

Collisions and insurance

If you have an accident and it's found you had failed to keep your car roadworthy, for example excessively worn tyres, and that was a contributory factor in the accident, your insurer will probably refuse to pay up. The police may also show an interest too. Quite reasonable many of you will say. But what if it's you that's un-roadworthy?

There's no legal obligation for you to have regular eyesight tests but you are required to tell the DVLA if you develop any medical problem effecting your fitness to drive. If you don't tell them, it's a criminal offence.

On the insurance front, if you are involved in an accident where your defective eyesight was a contributory factor, your insurance company may well argue that you were negligent and refuse to pay out. This could be simply because you needed glasses to drive but weren't wearing them at the time.

There are also insurance companies who offer discounts to drivers who have regular tests. Sadly many drivers never seem to bother to have eye tests, and assume that their sight is as accurate as when they passed their driving test.

Drive for a living

If you drive for a living, your employers have a legal responsibility to make sure you are fit to drive. This includes ensuring that their fleet drivers get routine check ups which includes an eyesight test.

Here are five important reasons to have a regular eye examination:

Poor eyesight can be dangerous. Make sure that if you drive your eyesight meets the legal requirement.
Good vision means working and playing better and safer - in fact it means a better quality of life.
An eye examination checks whether your eyesight needs helping with glasses or contact lenses.
Some eye diseases can only be found during an eye test.
Eye examinations can show up some general health problems.

All opticians offer free NHS sight tests to:

Everyone aged 60 or over
Anyone aged over 40 who has a close relative suffering from glaucoma,
Anyone who suffers from diabetes
Anyone who has glaucoma.
Full-time students under 19
Those on low income.

In addition full-time students under 19 and those on low income may be entitled to vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses (further details are available from your optician).

For more information call 0845 2302882 or email tfb@buckscc.gov.uk