Eye tests could be compulsory to keep driving licence as quarter don't have regular checks

A quarter of UK drivers have not had an eye test within the recommended two years, new research suggests.

And 12% of drivers admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were not sure it was, in the survey.

Department of Transport (DfT) figures show 240 people were injured and seven were killed in crashes on Britain's roads in which defective eyesight was a factor in 2023.

The latest figures are the highest since 2017 when the total number of casualties was 262.

Is it illegal to drive with bad eyesight

It is illegal to drive with bad eyesight, and anyone found doing so - including if driving without their glasses or contact lenses - can be fined £1,000, get three penalty points, and face potential disqualification from driving.

But the only time drivers in the UK must routinely prove their sight is good enough is during their driving test or when they are stopped by police - when they must be able to read a number plate 20 metres away.

Instead motorists are required to self-declare if they have a medical condition that could affect their ability to drive.

Public supports eye tests for drivers

A coroner in Lancashire said rules are the "laxest in Europe", with the UK only one of three countries to rely on self-reporting of visual conditions.

HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley said enforcement of visual legal standards are "ineffective and unsafe" in a prevention of future deaths report, written after four people were killed by motorists with poor eyesight.

They had ignored advice their sight had deteriorated below what was considered safe to drive.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously told the Commons Transport Select Committee she is "open to considering" eye tests for older motorists. Meanwhile a source close to Ms Alexander told the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrv1g2yl0xo that the Government accepted rules "need to be reassessed".

New rules could be part of the Government's upcoming road safety strategy.

Car insurance provider Churchill found 83% of UK adults questioned would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade.

And 88% would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reach 70 years old.

Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: "It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test.

"What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough - or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses.

"Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers."

Can you claim on car insurance if have poor eyesight?

Drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA about certain medical conditions that affect their ability to drive.

Insurers generally rely on DVLA fitness assessments. If you were driving with unmet legal standards or undeclared conditions, they could void your policy.

That means if your eyesight was inadequate at the time, insurers could deny payout - even for third-party claims or personal injury.

If the accident was not your fault, you can pursue a personal injury claim against the party responsible.

However, your poor eyesight could reduce the amount you recover due to contributory negligence.

A DfT spokesman said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.

"The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight.

"We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this."

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