New data has found that road collisions where ‘eyesight issues’ were a predominant factor have increased year-on-year.
Eyesight requirements have come under scrutiny in recent months with the government now consulting on tighter rules and regulations on eyesight standards.
Police now have the capability to carry out roadside eyesight tests, meaning that any drivers who fail the 20-metre licence plate check can lose their licence on the spot.
And with 33,000 drivers losing their licence in recent years due to failing eyesight standards, it’s clear that there is an underlying road safety issue at play.
The overall numbers might not seem huge in comparison to other road traffic incident statistics but the rise from 152 in 2023 to 214 last year is a sharp percentage increase and an indication for the government that more needs to be done.
Eyesight deterioration often happens gradually and drivers might not notice the difference, but that’s why the eyesight regulations are a crucial road safety requirements.
The reality is that driving with defective vision is a criminal offence, which is likely to result in fines, penalty points and the revoking of driving licences.
For fleets, these statistics are a reminder of the importance of regular eye tests and ongoing checks on driving licences to manage both fleet and driver risk on the road.
It’s always wise to regularly review how you currently manage licence checks and driver risk, and if you want to ensure that you stay on top of your requirements, you can download our FREE guide to Driving Licence Checking HERE.
