Elderly Driver failed Eye test but gets licence - advice?

[anonymous-user]

An elderly relative of mine has been on the cusp of having his driving licence revoked for a few years due to poor eyesight. He is very old and in poor health generally. Each year he is sent to an optician by the GP to be assessed. For the last couple of years it has been a close shave with the examiner explaining he is unlikely to get it renewed the following year. Apart from eyesight issues he is invalid and wears large orthopaedic shoes so cant always feel the pedals, there have been a number of bumps recently.

Last week it was test time again so off he went to Specsavers in Harrogate. He failed the test. The examiner explained to him that he might be a little nervous or not hearing properly so said they should try again. He failed again on the second attempt. The examiner must be on commission because he offered a third attempt, and with some assistance, the elderly relative passed, or so he was told.

Happy as a pig in st he came home and told us all of his good fortune at having three goes at the eye test and being passed. We were horrified.

Apart from the absurdity of the test and the risk to himself and other road users, I would like to understand where the liability would/will be in the event of an accident? The insurer will surely deem his policy void as he clearly cannot see very well (he would not pass the roadside numberplate test) and failed the eyesight test on two attempts, but an employee at Specsavers has allowed him to continue driving.

[Sheepshanks]

soofsayer said:

Apart from the absurdity of the test and the risk to himself and other road users, I would like to understand where the liability would/will be in the event of an accident? The insurer will surely deem his policy void as he clearly cannot see very well (he would not pass the roadside numberplate test) and failed the eyesight test on two attempts, but an employee at Specsavers has allowed him to continue driving.

Unless it's changed, one thing I recall being raised as an issue is that there's no time limit for the test. It came up as a friends grandfather can read a numberplate but only after he's scanned it several times and kind of assembled the image in his brain.

[Wacky Racer]

Were you in the room at the time. How do you know he had three attempts. Did he tell you?

Can't see as it would make any odds to Specsavers whether or not he passed.

[jamei303]

Why not dial 999 next time he drives off and tell them a blind guy is driving down the road about kill someone? If he'll fail a roadside test then that will be that.

[Bigends]

Does he wear specs. Was the test carried out with or without specs?
Is his eyesight ok to drive whilst hes wearing specs?

[anonymous-user]

jamei303 said:

Why not dial 999 next time he drives off and tell them a blind guy is driving down the road about kill someone? If he'll fail a roadside test then that will be that.

Thats not a bad idea if there were any police about to carry out the stop and test.

[anonymous-user]

Bigends said:

Does he wear specs. Was the test carried out with or without specs?
Is his eyesight ok to drive whilst hes wearing specs?

No he does not wear glasses. I dont know his exact eye medical condition but he has never been prescribed spectacles, he just has got very poor general eyesight due to his age and health.

[Pothole]

Wacky Racer said:

Were you in the room at the time. How do you know he had three attempts. Did he tell you?

Can't see as it would make any odds to Specsavers whether or not he passed.

OP said:

Happy as a pig in st he came home and told us all of his good fortune at having three goes at the eye test and being passed. We were horrified.

Have YOU been tested recently?

[Bigends]

soofsayer said:

Bigends said:

Does he wear specs. Was the test carried out with or without specs?
Is his eyesight ok to drive whilst hes wearing specs?

No he does not wear glasses. I dont know his exact eye medical condition but he has never been prescribed spectacles, he just has got very poor general eyesight due to his age and health.

Ok, but once hes prescribed specs his eyesight will be fine for him to drive. I get mine checked every couple of years. They make a point of telling me i'm ok to drive without specs and endorse my test result as such.

[Wacky Racer]

Pothole said:

Wacky Racer said:

Were you in the room at the time. How do you know he had three attempts. Did he tell you?

Can't see as it would make any odds to Specsavers whether or not he passed.

OP said:

Happy as a pig in st he came home and told us all of his good fortune at having three goes at the eye test and being passed. We were horrified.

Have YOU been tested recently?

Ooops, didn't read the post properly.

[JimbobVFR]

Bigends said:

Ok, but once hes prescribed specs his eyesight will be fine for him to drive.

Not necessarily, if specs would help his condition he'd have been prescribed some by now. Glasses can't solve all vision problems.

[Pothole]

Wacky Racer said:

Ooops, didn't read the post properly.

[Derek Smith]

You can be registered blind and still have a driving licence.

[JimbobVFR]

soofsayer said:

Last week it was test time again so off he went to Specsavers in Harrogate.

That's the most worrying part for me. I'm also in Harrogate. He doesn't drive a Jazz with the power mirrors folded in does he?

[anonymous-user]

JimbobVFR said:

That's the most worrying part for me. I'm also in Harrogate. He doesn't drive a Jazz with the power mirrors folded in does he?

Lol, no. If you see a Q3 passing by that never exceeds 38 mph with no apparent driver thats him.

[otolith]

JimbobVFR said:

Bigends said:

Ok, but once hes prescribed specs his eyesight will be fine for him to drive.

Not necessarily, if specs would help his condition he'd have been prescribed some by now. Glasses can't solve all vision problems.

For example;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degenerati...

[Bigends]

otolith said:

JimbobVFR said:

Bigends said:

Ok, but once hes prescribed specs his eyesight will be fine for him to drive.

Not necessarily, if specs would help his condition he'd have been prescribed some by now. Glasses can't solve all vision problems.

: yes:

For example;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degenerati...

Ok once he CAN be prescribed specs. If thats not the case the opticians should have advised him hes not safe to drive as per here -
https://guidance.college-optometrists.org/guidance...

[TooLateForAName]

soofsayer said:

JimbobVFR said:

That's the most worrying part for me. I'm also in Harrogate. He doesn't drive a Jazz with the power mirrors folded in does he?

Lol, no. If you see a Q3 passing by that never exceeds 38 mph with no apparent driver thats him.

Also near Harrogate - what colour is this Q3?

[Pica-Pica]

soofsayer said:

Bigends said:

Does he wear specs. Was the test carried out with or without specs?
Is his eyesight ok to drive whilst hes wearing specs?

No he does not wear glasses. I dont know his exact eye medical condition but he has never been prescribed spectacles, he just has got very poor general eyesight due to his age and health.

So you have no further information to add?

[Pothole]

Pica-Pica said:

So you have no further information to add?

don't be a git, he answered the questions.