Is Your Vision Roadworthy? Campaign – Feb 2023
Posted on Monday 27th February 2023 in Drivers, Education and Training, News
Sussex Safer Roads Partnership is supporting the #IsYourVisionRoadworthy? campaign to highlight motorists’ legal responsibility to ensure their eyes are fit for the road every time they get behind the wheel. The campaign runs between 27 February – 12 March 2023 as part of a nationwide initiative, to remind motorists they have a legal responsibility to ensure their vision is roadworthy every time they get behind the wheel.
Ninety per cent of information needed to drive is visual so it’s vital to keep your eyes and vision healthy. Regular sight tests, every two years unless advised otherwise by your optometrist, will help stop your eyesight becoming a road safety hazard that puts you and other road users at risk
If you’re found to be driving with vision that falls below the minimum standards, you face up to a £1,000 fine, 3 points on your licence and potential disqualification.
Under legislation known as Cassie’s Law, drivers who fail a roadside number plate test can have their driving licence revoked on the spot if a police officer deems them unsafe to be on the road.
In addition to the 20m number plate test the legal eyesight standards require motorists to have adequate fields of vision. The DVLA must also be notified about certain eyesight conditions. There are different standards for bus and lorry drivers (Group 2).
Vision can decline gradually without you realising, so eye experts recommend all motorists have regular sight tests – every two years unless advised otherwise by your optometrist – to help ensure your vision remains roadworthy.
Full details of the legal eyesight standards for all motorists can be found at gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chief Constable Lead Roads Policing comments: “Personal responsibility is the starting point for safer roads. Making sure your eyesight meets the standards of vision for driving is really important and something only you can do to keep yourself and all other road users safe while driving.”
Visit VisionAndDriving.info for practical advice and information about how to keep your vision roadworthy.
