Drivers that are meant to wear glasses but don’t could receive a £1,000 fine and three points because of their negligence,
This applies to drivers that are either short-sighted or long-sighted and will only affect you if you are found to be driving without your glasses.
This is because it could cause you to be a danger when on the roads due to your inability to see clearly. You could also invalidate your insurance policy if you are found responsible for accidents due to not wearing glasses.
It is believed that almost 60% of UK citizens need glasses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or an astigmatism.
The DVLA has stated that all drivers who need glasses/contact lenses must do so “every time they drive if they need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving”.
The DVLA has also stressed that you must alert them if your eyesight changes. This includes if you have any changes to one or both of your eyes.
To pass your eyesight check, you must be able to read a car number plate from 20 meters away, and you can use your glasses or contact lenses if needed.
You will have your eyesight tested at the start of your driving test and would have done this with your instructor in the lead-up to your practical driving test. If you fail this check, you will also fail your test, and the DVLA will be informed – you may also find your licence revoked.
Speaking about the importance of having an up-to-date eyesight prescription, Tom Preston, the Founder of Hippo Leasing, said: “Our eyesight is precious, and we should all be taking the steps necessary to protect it at all costs.
“It is dangerous to drive with impaired vision, and you could be putting yourself and other people’s lives at risk when you can’t view the road clearly, read road signs properly or see potential hazards.
“We would recommend responsible drivers get regular, thorough eye tests, wear their prescription glasses or sunglasses when behind the wheel, and take frequent breaks to rest your eyes when driving for long periods of time.
“If you struggle with eyestrain when driving, speak to your optician about tinted lenses which can help with this and aim to make your journeys more comfortable.”
How to protect your eyes while driving:
We spoke to our instructor in Leeds, Artur Piotrowski, about the best way to protect your eyes whilst driving to stay safe on the roads:
- Make sure you wear glasses while driving and always keep a spare pair in your car.
- If the sun is affecting your vision, make sure you have a set of prescription sunglasses/sunglasses that you can use.
- Use your car visor to block out the sun if you don’t have sunglasses.
- If you are driving for a long time, you can use eye drops whilst also taking regular breaks to reduce the risk of dry eyes.
