Research from the UK’s Association of Optometrists (AOP) has shown an increase in the number of motorists being asked to stop driving because of the risk their poor vision poses to themselves and others on the road - up 2% on 2018. Whilst almost 40% of UK optometrists admit to seeing as many as two patients in the month preceding the survey who continue to drive despite being told their vision is below the legal standard.  

Henry Leonard, AOP head of clinical and regulatory services, said the research findings were disappointing and could have frightening consequences. “We are seeing a rise in the number of people who have a disregard for how important good vision is for driving ability and it’s impacting the safety of the individuals who use our roads.”

In the UK, an estimated 2900 road injuries each year are caused by drivers with poor vision, leading to nearly 50% of the public agreeing the laws for driving vision should be more rigorous, said AOP. Among respondents wanting more rigorous laws, half believed a compulsory sight test should be part of a licence being granted and a quarter wanted motorists to have a sight test at least every 10 years, while 86% of regular drivers said they would be happy to have their vision checked every five years or even more frequently.