Police to check driver's eysight

EdGasketTheSecond

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45387965


I don't think they should be revoking licences in an uncontrolled, unscientifc test; maybe order an eyesight test at most. For marginal cases, midday light is much better than ambient; as are readily recognisable numbers and letters compared to difficult ones e.g. V111 ABC vs S863 WMN and also how clean the number plate is and how bright the background. They really should not be acting like a kangaroo court in such a subjective area. Be interesting if anyone who has their licence revoked in this manner challenges it.

Seems they have time to harass motorists again but not come round when some yobs are kicking your fence down.

robin58

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45387965


I don't think they should be revoking licences in an uncontrolled, unscientifc test; maybe order an eyesight test at most. For marginal cases, midday light is much better than ambient; as are readily recognisable numbers and letters compared to difficult ones e.g. V111 ABC vs S863 WMN and also how clean the number plate is and how bright the background. They really should not be acting like a kangaroo court in such a subjective area. Be interesting if anyone who has their licence revoked in this manner challenges it.

Seems they have time to harass motorists again but not come round when some yobs are kicking your fence down.

All number plates are designed to be read in any light condition unless they are messed about with people to pimp thier car plate.

It's not the problem of being unscientific, there is a law called Cassie's law that allows the police with the DVL to revoke your licence if you are found to be unfit to drive do to your eyesight.

The 20 metre test is the legal roadside test for your eyesight.

Plus when you apply for your licence you say you are ok with certain medical conditions, one of them is your eyesight. Lying when you applying for your licence and then being found out is another reason to have your licence revoked.

Having a licence to drive is not a right but a thing that is earned.

Jackmydad

I can read a number plate at 20 metres without my specs.
Tried it not so long back.
I wouldn't want me driving around without them though.
The test's too easy.
You can see people on the road, peering over the steering wheel, with their noses almost pressed on the screen.
And it's not just the oldies either!

robin58

Jackmydad wrote: »

I can read a number plate at 20 metres without my specs.
Tried it not so long back.
I wouldn't want me driving around without them though.
The test's too easy.
You can see people on the road, peering over the steering wheel, with their noses almost pressed on the screen.
And it's not just the oldies either!

This is what the crackdown is for.

As you say, it's just not the oldies who have eyesight problems.

AndyMc.....

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45387965


I don't think they should be revoking licences in an uncontrolled, unscientifc test; maybe order an eyesight test at most. For marginal cases, midday light is much better than ambient; as are readily recognisable numbers and letters compared to difficult ones e.g. V111 ABC vs S863 WMN and also how clean the number plate is and how bright the background. They really should not be acting like a kangaroo court in such a subjective area. Be interesting if anyone who has their licence revoked in this manner challenges it.

Seems they have time to harass motorists again but not come round when some yobs are kicking your fence down.

The police aren't revoking the licence.

Joe_Horner

Jackmydad wrote: »

I can read a number plate at 20 metres without my specs.
Tried it not so long back.

Same here - tried it today as it happens & could read them comfortably at well over.

But I have distance glasses which I use for driving because I was aware I was finding it harder than it used to be to pick out names on road signs in plenty of time. Maybe not using satnav helped highlight it!

I can see (more than) fine as far as the test is concerned without them but I can see a while lot better with them! I was also quite surprised to find that glare from headlights or sunlight is a LOT less troublesome with them (they're not tinted) and that long drives are less tiring when using them. That wasn't true of my first pair a couple of years ago, so accuracy of prescription probably has an effect.

Honestly, the "number plate at 20m" standard is so low that there's nothing ambiguous about it - if your sight's that poor then you shouldn't be driving until it's corrected!

ComicGeek

Well, after seeing first hand the horrendous incident back in 2011 which prompted Cassie's Law, I don't have any issue with this. If anything, there should be a full national campaign with checkpoints, like there is at Christmas time with drink driving checks, to check eyesight.

While I accept that it's not always the oldies, I do live on an estate with mainly retirees and the standard of driving is appalling. The number of people here that I speak with who are waiting for cataract surgery, who can't see well at all and still drive is frightening - you only have to look at the number of dents in their cars...

PasturesNew

I often stare out of my window and wonder how far I'm supposed to read plates from... now I can see it's 20 metres, I know I can see further than that....

Herzlos

You need to be able to read a plate at 20m to drive. If you can't then the outcome is obvious.
I'm sure there might be some appeal route for people who claim it was unfair but to be honest if you can't pass the test you shouldn't be on the road.

[Deleted User]

It surprises me that people are allowed to drive with one eye, I wouldn't be happy losing that much field of vision.

Deastons

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Same here - tried it today as it happens & could read them comfortably at well over.

Along with many, many thousands of other people. The police do all sorts of things, but when they go public with their decisions, this is the outcome they want - for people to actually become aware and think about their own situation.