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A report has found that the UK lags behind other European countries in its requirements for testing drivers’ eyesight.
The report, by optical sector groups ECOO, EUROM I and EUROMCONTACT, highlights substantial variation in the assessment of drivers’ vision across Europe, and recommends that member states – including the UK – act to better assess drivers’ vision.
While many European countries have good systems in place to assess all drivers’ vision, the report notes that the UK and a small number of other countries continue to rely on what many consider to be an outdated assessment of vision – the ‘Licence Plate Test’ – which is thought to be inconsistent with the underlying standards.
Among the proposals put forward by the UK Government in its consultation response, is to retain the Licence Plate Test for car and motorcycle drivers and to lower the current eyesight standard by reducing the distance at which the licence plate is read. In addition, the UK, along with France, Germany and four other countries, has no requirement for ongoing assessment of vision for these drivers, which is seen as a missed opportunity to improve road safety.
The report also recommends that the European Commission press the member states that are dragging their feet to implement better screening of drivers’ vision before issuing a first licence, and when renewing a driving licence.
With the EU committed to halving road deaths across the European Union by 2020, the aim is to achieve this by legislative means that changes driver behaviour, as well as raising the technical standards of vehicles and improving road designs. The visual requirements to drive safely in European law are currently being implemented by EU members states, including the UK, which lately launched a consultation on the matter.
On behalf of the Optical Confederation Jayne Rawlinson said: “The UK is at the bottom of the league when it comes to assessing drivers’ eyesight. We have been working to achieve better vision for safer driving in the UK and greatly value the support we have received from other road safety groups. We hope the UK Government will use this opportunity to ensure everyone drives with good vision.”
Mark Nevin, spokesman for ECOO said: “The European Commission should be alert to those member states that are dragging their feet and refusing to implement appropriate assessments of vision, before issuing a first licence and during the driving career. Given that 90% of sensory information when driving comes from vision, and poor vision impacts on driving performance, this must be an area with potential to deliver improvements in road safety."