DVLA could revoke driving licences over eyesight rule 'six in 10 are breaking'

A warning has been issued to elderly drivers and older road users amid a DVLA eyesight rule they are "unaware" they are breaking. Six in 10 optometrists have seen a patient in the past month who continues to drive despite their vision being below the legal standard.

The survey of more than 2000 UK adults carried out in October this year found that 29% would continue to drive despite knowing their vision is below the legal standard, while 26% of survey respondents say they are concerned about someone they know driving despite poor vision.

AOP chief executive Adam Sampson described the survey results as a “stark reminder” of why UK roads are not as safe as they should be. “Many eye care professionals on the High Street have a patient, or multiple patients, who are driving with vision that is proven to be, via a medical check, below the minimum standard required for driving,” he said.

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“In the UK, the number plate test is not an adequate test of vision. It is carried out only once with a driving instructor, not a trained eye health professional. A driver’s vision can then remain unchecked for the rest of their life. This approach is flawed and is out of step with many other countries who use a full sight test as the means to accurately ensure motorists have satisfactory vision to drive safely,” Sampson emphasised.

Professor Julie-Anne Little, past chairman of the AOP and research optometrist, highlighted that changes in vision can be gradual, which means many drivers are unaware that their vision has deteriorated over time. “It is a difficult conversation, but one that is absolutely necessary – preventing them from putting themselves and others at risk," she commented.

"Which is why we’re urging friends and family to take the time to consider what they want to say, approach it with respect but to tackle the conversation if they have concerns over a relative or someone they know who is driving with poor vision,” she said.