Legal Eyesight Requirement for Driving Uk

Learn more about recovery time from laser eye surgery and driving after laser eye surgery. You may be asked to take this test (and others) when you renew your driver`s licence, which takes place every three years after age 70. Licensed taxi drivers must meet their local authority`s vision requirements, which vary, but are often the same as for Group 2 drivers. Once you have your driver`s license, it is your responsibility to ensure that you can take this 20-meter vision test at any time. You must also be able to see clearly out of the corner of your eye at night and not have uncontrolled double vision. You may need to tell DVLA about your vision problem, so check their list of medical conditions that could affect your driving. Driving is an essential part of many people`s lives, so if your eyesight deteriorates, it can be a concern. The first thing you need to do is have your eyes checked so you know exactly where you stand. Your eye doctor will let you know if you need a new prescription for eyeglasses or additional treatment.

If your eyesight falls below the required standard, you must notify the DVLA and surrender your licence. If you are applying for a new driver`s licence, the DVLA will ask you to have an eye test done by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which will be carried out at the driving test centre. If you pass, you should still be able to pass the license plate check on your next driving test. You must also meet the minimum vision standard by having a visual acuity of at least 0.5 (6/12), measured on the Snellen scale (possibly with glasses or contact lenses), using both eyes together or, if you only see in one eye, in that eye. Truck and bus drivers (group 2) must meet stricter vision requirements, with a medical and visual check when applying for their bus or truck driving licence, then every five years from the age of 45 and every year from the age of 65. If you do not read the third plate and the examiner is satisfied that you cannot meet the vision requirements, the test will not continue. This video from the Seniors Forum gives useful tips for driving at night. There are three main points where your vision will be tested for driving: when you take your driving test, a police eye test on the side of the road and when you visit an optician. You can apply for a driver`s license again, but you will be asked to take an eye test with DVSA at a driving test centre. If you pass, you can then take the driving test. Vision may gradually deteriorate over time, and it can be difficult to recognize that it has fallen below the minimum standard.

For example, as we age, our eyes become less able to react quickly to changes in light and we have difficulty with colors and contrasts in low light. Between the ages of 15 and 65, the time it takes to recover from glare increases from 2 to 9 seconds. This could be one of the reasons why some people find driving at night more difficult. Police can and will require drivers who stopped them to have an on-site eye exam to prove they can read a licence plate from 20 metres away if they are concerned about their vision. If a driver is unable to pass this test, they will be advised that it would be a criminal offence to get back behind the wheel because they have not met the legal standard of vision. It`s easy to get an eye test from your local optometrist – it`s inexpensive and you can even qualify for a free test. Many free offers are available on the internet, so check out local offers and in Scotland, eye tests are free for everyone. 2. A safety officer who has reason to believe that a person who drives a motor vehicle may be guilty of an offence referred to in subparagraph 1 may cause the person to undergo an examination to determine whether the person cannot comply with the requirement in question by a means of correction other than driving.

If you are unable to do so, you will not pass your driving test and the test will not continue. The DVLA will be notified and your licence will be revoked. Please also consult the government website for driving vision and read the instructions from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Drivers over the age of 70 must declare, when renewing their driving licence, that their vision meets the minimum legal standards. Vision is important, no more so than when you`re driving. However, do you know the visibility required to drive and do you know that you encounter them? Read on to find out what the legal vision and standards of conduct are, and how to make sure you can drive safely. There are a variety of vision problems that can affect your eyesight and ability to drive, especially in the eyes of the law. If you fail to inform the DVLA of a condition affecting your vision and/or ability to drive, you may be fined up to £1,000 and prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result of this. There are eyesight requirements that all drivers must meet by law. You can and should wear glasses or contact lenses to meet the criteria. At the beginning of your practical driving test, you must correctly read a license plate on a parked vehicle.

Each driver undergoes a quick vision test at the beginning of their official driving test, correctly reading a license plate on a vehicle parked 20 meters away. The examiner will ask you to sign a declaration agreeing that you cannot meet the vision requirements. The wait time after laser eye surgery depends on several factors, including the type of surgery. Under Cassie`s law, the police also have the power to request an urgent withdrawal of your driver`s license if you are unable to take a roadside eye test at their request. This force was introduced in 2013 after the death of Cassie McCord, who died when an 87-year-old man lost control of her vehicle. Your driver`s license will give you the green light to drive as long as you can read a license plate 20 meters away. (You may remember that you had to do this as part of your driving test.) If you can only do this using glasses or contact lenses, this must be declared on your driver`s license and you must wear them every time you drive. According to road safety organisation Brake, around 3,000 injuries are caused by visually impaired drivers in the UK each year, so it`s important to make sure your vision is good enough or, if not, corrected by glasses or contact lenses if necessary. If your eyesight is good, but you`re worried that something else might interfere with your driving, pay attention to our next article on other health issues that might play a role. Driving with vision below the required standard is illegal and can also mean that your car insurance is not valid.

For more information, visit the government`s website for vision checks. If you try to remove them during the test, your examiner will remind you that it is required by law, and if you refuse to wear them, the test will not continue. To legally drive a car in the UK, the law requires: You must inform the DVLA if you have a vision problem that affects both eyes, or the remaining eye if you only have one eye.