Driving eyesight reqs
Discussion
I require glasses to read the numberplate but it is so marginal (i could read it from 16 or 17 metres, ive tried) and my vision is generally very good its only reading from a distance that i have trouble with. I have my specs in the car but i have to admit because they give such a small improvement in vision i often forget to put them on.
martin84 said:
I require glasses to read the numberplate but it is so marginal (i could read it from 16 or 17 metres, ive tried) and my vision is generally very good its only reading from a distance that i have trouble with. I have my specs in the car but i have to admit because they give such a small improvement in vision i often forget to put them on.
Interesting, as I can read a number plate from the required distance but wouldn't dream of driving without my glasses (short sighted).martin84 said:
The law is if you can read a numberplate from 20.5 metres you can legally drive. That is the test a police officer would give you also. An optician has no authority to tell you to wear glasses.
He may have no authority to tell you but he does have a responsibility to tell you.Don't forget that the optician has a duty of care, if you crash and subsequently fail the required eye requirements, unless the optician may be hauled before a disciplinary committee if he cannot should that he advised you to wear spectacles.
The major problem he has is that the chart is only an approximation of the requirement. Plenty fail in the test room and can pass the actual test, and vice versa.
There is an ongoing discussion around Europe to make it on the opticians eye chart only.
If you had an accident and it transpired your optician had advised you you needed correction to drive, you would be in a lot more trouble than if it hadn't.
Typically (though it's open to a little debate), if you can read the 7.5 line on the test chart (usually 3rd or 4th from the bottom), you should be able to read the number plate at the required distance.
Typically (though it's open to a little debate), if you can read the 7.5 line on the test chart (usually 3rd or 4th from the bottom), you should be able to read the number plate at the required distance.
Tha daft thing about the current law is that someone with glaucoma and has an impaired visual field (blocked side vision when looking forward) will pass the eye test for cars
It is so simple and cheap to have an eye test by an optician that its about time it was made compulsory before a provisional can be issued and then a check every X amount of years - oerhaps at the same time that the photo needs renewing
It is so simple and cheap to have an eye test by an optician that its about time it was made compulsory before a provisional can be issued and then a check every X amount of years - oerhaps at the same time that the photo needs renewing
Having been through this faff recently, dont expect your doctor or optician to give you correct advice. I've been told I can only drive with glasses, without glasses and even been told that I am classed as blind.
Actual fact of the matter is that I'm fine to drive without glasses and would not benefit from wearing them.
Actual fact of the matter is that I'm fine to drive without glasses and would not benefit from wearing them.
R0G said:
shouldbworking said:
Actual fact of the matter is that I'm fine to drive without glasses and would not benefit from wearing them.
Is that a medical opinion or just your opinion?badoom--- tish.
I'll get my bat and goat.
Where's Derek Smith when you need him? 
The standard eyesight test is indeed a capability to read a number plate at 20.5 metres. However, if you have certain eye conditions that impair your vision you are supposed to inform DVLA of this fact and they will arrange for further tests to be carried out to check that you are still capable of driving.
I know I've read somewhere that certain people who are registered blind can indeed drive, but don't ask me to elaborate because I can't. This is where we need somebody in the "eye repair" trade or DVLA or Derek
The standard eyesight test is indeed a capability to read a number plate at 20.5 metres. However, if you have certain eye conditions that impair your vision you are supposed to inform DVLA of this fact and they will arrange for further tests to be carried out to check that you are still capable of driving.
I know I've read somewhere that certain people who are registered blind can indeed drive, but don't ask me to elaborate because I can't. This is where we need somebody in the "eye repair" trade or DVLA or Derek
davepoth said:
I think an optician is probably one of the better judges of who needs glasses to drive. 
Unless they are considering commercial interests. I had an interesting conversation with my optician on the subject. Would they notify DVLA if a patient has defective eyesight? No (data protection etc). What about notifying the patient's GP, so they can notify DVLA? "Ah, well, if we got the reputation as the ones who get your licence taken off you......."
Shouldn't have gone to...
R0G said:
Tha daft thing about the current law is that someone with glaucoma and has an impaired visual field (blocked side vision when looking forward) will pass the eye test for cars
It is so simple and cheap to have an eye test by an optician that its about time it was made compulsory before a provisional can be issued and then a check every X amount of years - oerhaps at the same time that the photo needs renewing
People with Glaucoma are required to notify the DVLA and pass an "enhanced field of vision" test to ensure any field defect is compensated for in the other eye.It is so simple and cheap to have an eye test by an optician that its about time it was made compulsory before a provisional can be issued and then a check every X amount of years - oerhaps at the same time that the photo needs renewing
There are some other stipulations such as the field defect cannot be in the central portion of the field of view. Provided they pass the requirements and also meet the distance test then they are deemed fit to drive.
I agree totally that a proper eye sight test should be a compulsory part of holding a driving licence.
My lovely other half, who will be called Snowgirl from now on had her eyes lasered a while back.
The optician did a test with the letter board, and cleared her for driving as she could read the required row.
She's asked me to post;
"I was terrified when my sight was cleared for driving after my surgery because I couldn't read roadsigns until I was on top of them, and insisted on having interim glasses until it finished healing. Scary how poor a driver's eyesight is allowed to be."
The laser eyes have since healed and now her eyesights great again.
The laser eyes are also great for thawing frozen any ice on the drive over winter.
The optician did a test with the letter board, and cleared her for driving as she could read the required row.
She's asked me to post;
"I was terrified when my sight was cleared for driving after my surgery because I couldn't read roadsigns until I was on top of them, and insisted on having interim glasses until it finished healing. Scary how poor a driver's eyesight is allowed to be."
The laser eyes have since healed and now her eyesights great again.
The laser eyes are also great for thawing frozen any ice on the drive over winter.
Edited by Snowboy on Thursday 29th September 09:24
I am very short sighted, however I am fortunate in that contact lenses give me better than 20/20 vision.
A couple of weeks ago, a small particle of some kind managed to get into my eye and scratch it. Whilst it was healing, I had to wear my glasses (not current prescription but still OK according to my optician). I normally only wear the glasses for 5 minutes between getting out of bed and putting my lenses in in the morning and the reverse in the evening, and as I hadn't worn them outside for months I hadn't fully realised how much worse my eyesight is with them than with lenses.
After being forced back into glasses (that were given the OK by my optician recently), I find the fact that motorists are permitted to drive with this level of vision or lower very worrying, as I instantly felt very vulnerable due to a tiny reduction in the quality of my vision. This certainly made me doubly cautious of my own capabilities and wary as I felt that they had been reduced and that my driving was compromised. Bear in mind that I could still read a car number plate from further than the required distance but still felt uneasy.
- One thing is for sure: I will be updating my glasses ASAP just in case I come to rely on them again. I find it unnervinging that there plenty of people bimbling around with worse eyesight than I have whilst wearing my old glasses.
A couple of weeks ago, a small particle of some kind managed to get into my eye and scratch it. Whilst it was healing, I had to wear my glasses (not current prescription but still OK according to my optician). I normally only wear the glasses for 5 minutes between getting out of bed and putting my lenses in in the morning and the reverse in the evening, and as I hadn't worn them outside for months I hadn't fully realised how much worse my eyesight is with them than with lenses.
After being forced back into glasses (that were given the OK by my optician recently), I find the fact that motorists are permitted to drive with this level of vision or lower very worrying, as I instantly felt very vulnerable due to a tiny reduction in the quality of my vision. This certainly made me doubly cautious of my own capabilities and wary as I felt that they had been reduced and that my driving was compromised. Bear in mind that I could still read a car number plate from further than the required distance but still felt uneasy.
- One thing is for sure: I will be updating my glasses ASAP just in case I come to rely on them again. I find it unnervinging that there plenty of people bimbling around with worse eyesight than I have whilst wearing my old glasses.
So... you get 3 tries at the 20 meter test.
Anyone here who can tell me what would happen if I did the first two and failed them while not wearing glasses, then for the third I pulled glasses out of my pocket and read it perfectly? Is that some sort of crime and or reason to fail my test or just smart thinking.
Anyone here who can tell me what would happen if I did the first two and failed them while not wearing glasses, then for the third I pulled glasses out of my pocket and read it perfectly? Is that some sort of crime and or reason to fail my test or just smart thinking.
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