The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has been called on to bring about more stringent eyesight tests for older drivers over the age of 70. The Association of Optometrists (AOP) advocates for more comprehensive vision tests for drivers.
Dr Peter Hampson, Optometrist and AOP Clinical and Policy Director pointed out that Britain’s driver vision testing falls short compared with other countries which use full eyesight tests to ensure drivers meet their required standards. “The UK system around drivers vision is out of step with many other countries who instead use a full sight test to ensure vision meets the standard. In fact, within Europe, we are one of only five countries that uses a number plate test and only one of three countries to rely on self-reporting.”
The AOP has long called for mandatory vision checks for anyone applying for a driving license for the first time and during every renewal, very decade for most drivers and every three yeas for older drivers over the age of 70.
The Older Drivers Forum shared the sentiment. “The Forum recommend that all drivers have an optician’s eyesight test at least every 2 years,” it said. “Nearly 90% of driving is visual and we need good vision to see hazards and react to them.”
“Unlike other parts of primary care, such as dentistry or for GPs, optometry does not have long waits for appointments or the capacity challenges that we see elsewhere in the NHS,” Dr Hampson said. “Optometrists already see many patients that fall within this age group. This is because those over the age of 60 are entitled to an NHS sight test that comes at no cost to the patient.”
Senior coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adely has released a prevention of future deaths report, saying that poor vision in drivers was the cause of four deaths. Britain’s licensing system, he said, was the “laxest” in Europe.
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