Is it time for mandatory driver eyesight tests?

Within Keoghs Crime & Regulatory department we regularly address motor prosecution matters. These commonly involve instances of careless or dangerous driving resulting in serious injury or fatalities. Notably, a number of cases I have managed have centred on the driver’s visual acuity.

A common occurrence after a road traffic accident is for the driver to fail a roadside eyesight test. This test assesses whether a driver can read a vehicle registration plate from a distance of 20 metres, allowing for the use of glasses or contact lenses if necessary. Drivers are also required to meet a minimum eyesight standard, which is a visual acuity of at least 6/12 on the Snellen scale, again, with or without corrective lenses as needed.

Currently, drivers are responsible for self-reporting any health conditions, including eyesight issues, to the DVLA, however, unless you have a clear condition like glaucoma or cataracts, it’s often hard to notice gradual eyesight deterioration without an optician’s assessment.

Consequently, drivers often do not self-report eyesight problems because they are simply unaware or have not been told by an optician that their vision is impaired. If a driver’s eyesight is found to be defective following an accident, it typically does not go to their culpability unless there is proof they knew, or should have known, their vision did not meet the legal standard.

Conversely, knowingly driving with defective eyesight typically constitutes dangerous driving. This differs from cases where a driver was likely unaware of their deteriorating eyesight prior to an accident. Such situations might include having no pre-existing eye conditions, meeting legal eyesight standards at their most recent optician appointment (typically every two years), or not being informed of any impairments by their optician. These circumstances would typically not be classified as dangerous driving but could instead be considered careless driving.

In a recent inquest into the deaths of pedestrians Grace Foulds and Marie Cunningham, who were tragically killed in a road traffic accident, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, issued a report to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. This report recommended action to prevent future deaths. The driver, Glyn Jones, had struck Mrs Foulds and Mrs Cunningham as they crossed the road. Crucially, he had been aware for several years that his eyesight was legally insufficient for driving and had even been warned he was unfit to drive. Despite this, he failed to declare his condition to the DVLA; his vision was so poor he could not even see the steering wheel clearly.[1] Mr Jones was subsequently convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to 7 years and 4 months imprisonment, along with a driving disqualification totalling 9 years and 10 months.[2]

Just as all drivers are legally required to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and undergo annual MOTs (except for new vehicles in their first three years), this raises a crucial question: should a similar annual test, encompassing eyesight and even a medical check, be required for drivers? Specifically, should it apply to those with a family history of eye issues, at a certain age, or perhaps to all drivers, regardless of health background or age?

[1] Coroner’s call for older driver eye tests after fatal crashes - BBC News
[2] Driver who ignored sight problem killed two women in Southport - BBC News