One in three drivers fail sight test
Date: 16/05/2008 12:00:00
One in three London motorists have failed a vision screening test, prompting concerns that millions of drivers could be unsafe on the road.
Specsavers checked the sight of 500 drivers during a Drive Safe roadshow at Olympia and discovered a third were falling short of police and government requirements.
The firm also found that 92 per cent of those checked thought regular eye examinations should be made compulsory.
Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins said: "These results show that a significant number of London's drivers are worryingly unsafe."
She added being perceptive and alert in a congested city like London was "crucial" and encouraged motorists to get their sight checked regularly.
Almost nine in ten drivers checked also said an incentive, such as a discount on their
car insurance, would make them consider regular eye examinations.
Current regulations require drivers to be able to read a number plate from a distance of around 20 metres.
If a driver needs glasses or contact lenses to do this, they are required by law to wear them while at the wheel.