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Driving Sight Failiure!

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After having my first ever driving lesson i was asked by the instructor to read a number plate from distance and i failed.
I do wear specs but i had no idea my sight was this bad, he told me i won't be getting any other lessons as i would be a liability on the road. I wanted to start a new chapter in my life but i'm not sure whether to get a second opinion.
My optician said my eyesight will not get any better but she was surprised to hear i failed reading the number with my glasses on.:(
Time Is The Enemy!
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Comments

  • Time for new glasses.

    Not sure what the point was of this thread is.
  • Frank99
    Frank99 Posts: 624 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Your instructor is talking tosh, i "see" lots of blind people in my area driving everyday (into lamposts, bollards and in some cases people) so get second opinion.
    Enjoy everyday like it's your last!
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,835 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    After having my first ever driving lesson i was asked by the instructor to read a number plate from distance and i failed.
    (
    When I trained as an instructor the procedure was to test eyesight before the first lesson!
  • eamon
    eamon Posts: 2,321 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    If you currently have the correct glasses/lenses then something worth trying is practicing reading number plates. Failing that go back to your optician and ask for additional specific help i.e. trying assorted lenses outside. Maybe that you need different glasses for varying activities.
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,454 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    ....i'm not sure whether to get a second opinion.

    You know what the eyesight requirement is for driving, just walk 20 metres away from a car & see if you can read the number. There is your second opinion.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • no1catman
    no1catman Posts: 2,973 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    Maybe the 'second opinion' is a different optician.

    I remember after leaving having an eye-test for about four years, when I did get one, she said -'you're not legal to drive'. So for about three weeks I didn't - new glasses great.
    Go every year now - almost £400 last year with all the add-ons. Have been told lenses can go down as far as -15, have some way to go yet.

    Suspect, with a different optician who is more patient, will get a more accurate prescription and hence legal to drive.
    HTHs.
    I used to work for Tesco - now retired - speciality Clubcard
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Car_54 wrote: »
    When I trained as an instructor the procedure was to test eyesight before the first lesson!
    I discovered I (just about) needed glasses for distance on my mock test...

    OP - the legal minimum is fairly low - reading a number plate from 20m. If you can't do that with corrected vision, then your instructor is correct. And if that comes as a surprise to your optician, then you need a new optician.

    https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules
  • Be careful.

    When I took my driving test I was told I didn't meet the eyesight standard. Only after insisting they measure the distance did they discover the plate I was asked to read was over 25m away!

    You could get a 20m tape measure, or get a few balls of string to about 21m to be safe. Use that to go out and test yourself a few times. You have to be pretty poor sighted to not meet the standard.

    I have a prescription of -11.5, with astigmatism and a lazy left eye.
  • lister
    lister Posts: 239 Forumite
    When I took my driving test I was told I didn't meet the eyesight standard. Only after insisting they measure the distance did they discover the plate I was asked to read was over 25m away!

    I doubt you did insist...

    Standard procedure is to get you to read a number plate (usually c. 25m to be certain it is at least 20, as often selected by eye from surrounding vehicles, although some test centres have set of plates on a wall or similar), and if that is failed a second plate is selected.

    Fail that and they will always get the tape out - it is the mandatory prodcedure for the eyesight test. No insistence required.
  • Scrapit
    Scrapit Posts: 2,304 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    What's the point of this thread? Cant see can't drive. Simple enough. And an easy fix, get an eye test in any high street place and get glasses made in an hour.
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