Tough crackdown on driver eyesight New rules could see drivers with poor eyesight having their driving licences revoked in a matter of hours.
A new system, devised by the DVLA and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), speeds up the processing of roadside eyesight test failures by electronically notifying the DVLA and issuing motorists with a licence revocation notice within hours rather than days.
All drivers are required by law to be capable of correctly reading number plate from 20 metres away. Any motorist which can’t will have their licence revoked, not to be returned until they can demonstrate their eyesight meets the required standard. The roadside eyesight tests are only carried out in daylight.
Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: “All drivers have a responsibility to make sure they are fit to drive every time they get behind the wheel and this includes making sure they meet minimum eyesight standards.
“Reducing road casualties is a top priority for the Government and our licensing rules play an important part in keeping our roads safe.”
The required visual acuity standards for PCV drivers are currently at least 6/7.5 (20/25) in the better eye and at least 6/12 (20/40) in the other, although uncorrected both eyes must have an acuity of at least 3/60. Where glasses are required their corrective power must be less than or equal to eight dioptres. Providing their driving licence has not lapsed at any point, some drivers may have grandfather rights if they first obtained their group two licence between March 1992 and the end of 1996, although they must be able to pass the number plate test.
