Optyk Online – Revision of the Regulations

Neil Pemberton, 81, was driving on the A666 at Langho in March 2022 when he hit and killed 80-year-old pedestrian Peter Westhill. Glyn Jones (68) tragically hit and killed two women in Southport in 2021, while 82-year-old Peter Gardner collided with a cyclist while riding in Whitchurch, causing fatal injuries.

In each case, vision impairment was found to be the main cause of accidents. Pemberton was blind in his right eye and had very little vision in his left eye, but the optometrist said that without vision correction, Jones would have had difficulty seeing his steering wheel. Prison sentences have been imposed as a deterrent, but tragically victims continue to be killed.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), around 2,900 accidents a year are caused by drivers with poor eyesight.

Visual requirements

Although the government specifies that drivers must have a visual acuity of at least 0.5 (6/12) decimal on the Snellen scale and an “adequate field of vision”, reading a car license plate from a distance of 20 m remains the main way of testing vision during a driving test for a driving license.

Not only has the simplicity of driving vision tests long been questioned, but the lack of any mandatory testing from the time a driver’s license is obtained until the age of 70, when drivers must declare every three years that they meet minimum vision standards, has proven to be an ongoing bone of contention.

Last year’s consultation by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to review the way vision tests are carried out was widely welcomed by the optical industry, charities and organizations campaigning for change. But for many, the proposals did not go far enough.

Improving the availability and processes of driving tests, with the involvement of 20,960 respondents, proposed changing the law so that license plate testing could be carried out at any level of lighting – not just in good daylight. The DVSA has promised to look at options available to introduce other ways of carrying out vision tests, working with the driving and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) medical panel.

One consultation respondent commented: “A few weeks before the test date, (drivers should) go to an optician to obtain a certificate confirming that their eyesight is still suitable for driving. On the day of the examination, the examiner should still be obliged to carry out a vision test, including issuing a certificate.

Another added: “I don’t understand why a road safety organization like the DVSA would carry out such a basic eye check as asking someone to read a number plate from a very close distance, just 20m. If we are to be serious about road safety, anyone wishing to apply for a driving license should be required to undergo a full eye examination by an ophthalmologist.

The DVSA is not currently providing any further updates to the proposals, while the DVLA says drivers have an ongoing responsibility to ensure they meet vision standards while driving.

A statement said: “The DVLA is reviewing all medical driving license policies and procedures on an ongoing basis and has no current plans to introduce compulsory vision tests or further medical tests for drivers.

“Last year the DVLA launched a call for applications to issue driving licenses for people with medical conditions. This was an early stage request for input that could help formulate proposals that could support potential changes to the legal framework. The views and evidence gathered are currently being analyzed.”

Fight for change

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has argued that the DVSA’s proposals to focus on the “good daylight” requirement for testing a driver’s eyesight during a test do not go far enough.

Chief executive Adam Sampson (pictured right) told Optician: “We have long argued that the way a driver’s vision is assessed must fundamentally change. The license plate examination is not a reliable indicator of whether a person can drive safely because it does not check all important aspects of visual function. It is only carried out once with a driving instructor, meaning someone could pass the test and never have to take an eye test again.

“The system we currently have has serious flaws and lags behind the systems used in many other countries. We hope that the DVSA will take this opportunity to take an honest look at the process. The only solution is to replace the number plate examination with a modern and appropriate assessment carried out by a trained eye health specialist, with drivers also having to prove that their eyesight is good enough to be able to drive at key intervals.

“We maintain that the point of renewing the contract for 10 years is pragmatic. However, drivers should, of course, have regular eye tests throughout their lives and the DVSA should make sure they are reminded of this important safety check to keep their driving licence.

Sampson says the current best way to check whether a driver’s vision meets legal requirements is to have their eyesight tested every two years, or more often if recommended. Referring to AOP’s “Don’t Delay Your Eye Exam” patient resource kit, he adds: “Our advice to physicians is to use our resources to reinforce and remind patients of this message.”

AOP research shows that 60% of optometrists have seen patients whose vision does not meet legal standards but who continue to drive, according to AOP research, the College of Optometrists states: “If you believe that a patient does not meet the vision standards for driving, you should advise him not to drive. If the patient continues driving and you cannot persuade him to stop, you should contact the DVLA and inform the patient.

Echoing the AOP’s desire to improve current vision regulations to improve road safety, Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation (pictured right)points out that driving with uncorrected vision is an offense and exposes other road users to unnecessary risk.

“We believe that anyone applying for or renewing a driving license should, at a minimum, demonstrate that they have passed a vision test so that there is no doubt as to whether they need to wear glasses or contact lenses to drive safely,” Optician said.

The charity Brake, responsible for the annual Road Safety Week campaign, refers to its independent report conducted in cooperation with insurer Axa UK in May 2023 among 2,010 car drivers.

Some 83% of respondents agreed that the law should require drivers to have regular eye exams at an optician, with 37% suggesting every two years, 33% every five years, and 13% suggesting every 10 years.

“Your vision can get much worse even if you don’t realize it. We recommend that all drivers have their eyes checked by an optician at least every two years, or immediately if they think there may be a problem,” the charity says.

Police powers

With the power to revoke a driving license on the spot if you fail a road license plate test under the Cassie Act provisions, police forces also have an important role to play in improving road safety.

If someone behind the wheel is found to have eyesight below minimum standards, they could face a fine of up to £1,000, three points on their driving license and potential disqualification.

Between 2014 and 2022, Essex Police issued 335 revocations, second only to Sussex Police with 346 revocations, representing 13.8% and 14.2% respectively of the total number of revocations recorded by the 44 police forces.

During the previous Vision Zero day, run with the Safer Essex Roads Partnership in support of Road Safety Week, Essex Police also issued 40 reports of road traffic offenses, including four relating to window tinting which obstructed drivers’ vision.

Adam Pipe, head of the road police, says: “Most drivers know that their car must be in good technical condition and must be subject to MOTs and inspections. I urge drivers to also check their eyesight so they can protect themselves and others.”

Hopes for the future

Support for efforts to update current vision and driving laws is strong, according to AOP research, with nine in 10 optometrists agreeing that all qualified drivers should have regular vision tests. Previous research by Zeiss Vision Care UK also found that 67% of the public supported making annual eye tests compulsory for drivers aged over 50.

The DVLA has shown it is willing to listen to advice, having previously amended its expanded list of notifiable eye conditions following an AOP warning that it could apply to almost any driver undergoing a vision test (Optyk, 23 June 2023). Time will tell to what extent the DVLA will continue to change existing regulations.

The AOP is clear in its willingness to work with the DVSA on any future changes. As Sampson says: “We are aware that this work is in the early stages of development. We welcome confirmation from the DVSA of working with the AOP together with other interested parties and the DVLA to develop the proposals.

“Any overhaul of driving vision tests would be incomplete without improvements to the current system, and requiring drivers to have their eyesight checked every time they renew their driving license makes sense to ensure they meet legal standards.”