Eyesight checks – are your eyes legal to drive?
The Road Safety Team at Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) and Thames Valley Police were out and about during May to raise driver awareness of the importance of ensuring their eyesight meets the ‘standards of vision for driving’.
As part of the campaign drivers who were stopped for speeding were then asked to take part in an eyesight test by reading a car number plate. The majority passed with no problem, but three drivers had difficultly reading the number plate and were advised to visit their optician as a matter of urgency.
The law requires all drivers able to read, in good daylight, with glasses or corrective lenses if needed, a registration plate fixed to a motor vehicle from either, 20.5 metres for number plates made before 1 September 2001, or 20 metres for number plates made from 1st September 2001. Motorists could be prosecuted for driving if they don’tmeet these standards.
Mark Shaw Cabinet Member for Transportation said, “I would encourage all drivers to have regular eyesight checks to make sure they meet thelegal requirementsdriving.
“Drivers withpoor vision are a danger to themselves and other road users; if you can’t see very well, you might not see a hazard or person in time to react or stop. The general recommendation is to have an eyesight check at least every two years or straight away if you notice any problems.”
Mr Shaw added, “Having good eyesight is a basic requirement of safe driving. Itmay also help to reduce the number of people injured or killed on our roads.”