Police to check driver's eysight

AndyMc.....

neilmcl wrote: »

Do you, and if so will you share please?

There’s two further requirements to meet and both require an optician.

sevenhills

robin58 wrote: »

This is what the crackdown is for.

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

They seem to do no checks what so ever, and they have a clampdown. Why not get something regular instead of needed a clampdown?

neilmcl

AndyMc..... wrote: »

There’s two further requirements to meet and both require an optician.

Are you sure about that because this goes against what's being stated by the Police that they have the power to immediately revoke your licence on failure of a roadside eye test.

Stoke

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

It's not just the elderly (but generally they are more likely to be in this group). Eyesight generally starts deteriorating from about age 40 onwards.

There should be mandatory eyesight tests every time you are required to renew your licence ie every 10 years when you update your photograph or for anyone over 70 it's every 3 years.

I would fully support this. I'm aware that eye sight issues can affect everyone but the elderly are often less likely to take advice or wear glasses. The two stories I've read this morning, have two things in common:
- elderly driver.
- told to stop driving but too arrogant/selfish to quit.

In the case of Cassie, the drivers response to being told to stop driving was "so I can drive?". Ludicrous.

In the days of "I blame the parents", well perhaps family members should be encouraged to step in when necessary. Both of the stories I read, the family declined to comment.... Clearly quite happy with allowing their dangerous parents to kill borderline adolescents.

Mrs_Arcanum

Never understood why regular eye tests were not a requirement of insurance. With the extra check of proof of having corrective measures worn.

Seems to me it would be an ideal way for insurance companies to refuse to pay out, if someone was not wearing glasses/contacts when required.

AndyMc.....

neilmcl wrote: »

Are you sure about that because this goes against what's being stated by the Police that they have the power to immediately revoke your licence on failure of a roadside eye test.

The power to revoke a licence remains with the dvla.

Where does it say the police do it?

Bigphil1474

While I agree completely that drivers should have eyesight to a minimum standard to drive, I've no idea how being able to read a number plate at 20m tells you anything. Are you checking to see if they can read road signs? If so, how come most signs are pictorial or have much bigger letters/numbers. Are you checking to see if they can see well enough to react in case a small animal or child runs in the road? Then, how does reading a number plate help.
I can see diddly squat for reading without my glasses, but have very good eyesight beyond that. I agree with the suggestion of having eye tests as mandatory. I have mine tested every 2 years through work, and employers have to provide free eye tests for computer users anyway.
I think I saw somewhere (possibly New Zealand) where they mark your driving license if you are required to where glasses (et al) for driving - would help the police with their checks. Some might have contacts on, but if they stop a driver and they aren't wearing glasses when they should, they can do further checks.

Rover_Driver

The main difference with this new scheme is that under the old system it was a paper exercise by post - from the police to the DVLA and then from the DVLA to the motorist. Now apparently the police can contact the DVLA electronically from the scene of the test, if the motorist fails, the DVLA can reply with the revocation.

neilmcl

AndyMc..... wrote: »

The power to revoke a licence remains with the dvla.

Where does it say the police do it?

OK, they "request" it's revoked immediately by the DVLA.

neilmcl

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

While I agree completely that drivers should have eyesight to a minimum standard to drive, I've no idea how being able to read a number plate at 20m tells you anything. Are you checking to see if they can read road signs? If so, how come most signs are pictorial or have much bigger letters/numbers. Are you checking to see if they can see well enough to react in case a small animal or child runs in the road? Then, how does reading a number plate help.
I can see diddly squat for reading without my glasses, but have very good eyesight beyond that. I agree with the suggestion of having eye tests as mandatory. I have mine tested every 2 years through work, and employers have to provide free eye tests for computer users anyway.
I think I saw somewhere (possibly New Zealand) where they mark your driving license if you are required to where glasses (et al) for driving - would help the police with their checks. Some might have contacts on, but if they stop a driver and they aren't wearing glasses when they should, they can do further checks.

Licences in this country are marked if you are required to wear glasses or contacts, it's code 01 on the back.