Poor sighted brits

1 November 2005

POOR SIGHTED BRITS CAUSING HAVOC ON NATION'S ROADS.

Thousands of motorists with poor eyesight are endangering Britain’s road users by failing to wear their glasses or contact lenses, according to new research by safe driver champion Privilege Insurance.

Over half (55 per cent) of the British driving population currently has a prescription for glasses or contact lenses which they should wear when driving. But the research
findings reveal that almost one in five (18 per cent) have driven without wearing their prescription glasses or contact lenses, equating to over 3 million drivers. Most worrying
is that almost a fifth of these (17 per cent), over half a million drivers, confess to doing so once every few days.

According to Privilege’s research, a significant 3 per cent of all drivers who have an eyesight prescription, representing over 500,000 motorists, have been involved in a driving
incident such as drifting out of lane, exceeding the speed limit or even driving on the wrong side of the road while not wearing their glasses or contact lenses.

Poor sighted drivers are not just popping to the local shops without their glasses, it seems. The results reveal that the last time motorists who have driven without their glasses or
lenses ventured out without correcting their eyesight, eight in ten (79 per cent) drove at least two miles and one in ten (11 per cent) drove over 50 ....cont/

miles.

Over half (55 per cent) of drivers who have driven without their prescription lenses or glasses admitted that they would fail the driving test regulation of being able to read a
car registration plate from 20.5m without their glasses or lenses.

Despite the law stating that all drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20.5 metres, a quarter (25 per cent) of all drivers could be breaking the law as they do not
have their eyes tested every 1-2 years – the time frame recommended by the Institute of Optometry.

Deacon Harle, chief executive of the Institute of Optometry, said:

"Reduced vision can have a significant and probably dangerous effect on driver competence. For those unsure if they require glasses, an eye examination with a
qualified optometrist is vital as this can detect any changes in vision or eye diseases before the effects on driving are felt.”

“For those that already wear glasses or contact lenses, it is imperative that they are the correct prescription and that they have regular eyesight check ups.

The correct optical equipment for driving is essential – and this can include prescription sunglasses, anti- reflection spectacle lenses and contact lenses.”

Ian Parker, Managing Director of Privilege Insurance commented on the findings:

“Surprisingly our research has uncovered a large number of motorists who haven’t recently had an eye test, so may be ....cont/

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completely unaware if they require
glasses or not. Even more disturbing is the number of people with prescriptions but who forget to put their glasses on before driving, despite admitting they
couldn’t even read a number plate from 20.5m – the legal requirement. Privilege urges all drivers to have annual eye tests and to always wear glasses or contact
lenses when needed, no matter how short their journey.”

Notes

1.YouGov surveyed 2,634 people on behalf of Privilege Insurance between 23nd and 26th September 2005. According to the Census 2001, the population of Great Britain is 58,789,194 of which 46,161,595 are over 17. Of these, 73 per cent drive a car, van or lorry on the roads, equating to 33,697,964 GB drivers. Of these, 55 per cent have a prescription to wear glasses or contact lenses, equating to 18,533,880. Of these, 18 per cent have driven without their glasses or contact lenses in, equating to 3,336,098 drivers. Of these, 17 per cent drive without their glasses / contact lenses everyday, equating to 567,134 drivers.

2.Of those drivers who have a prescription (18,533,880), 3 per cent have had a driving incident when not wearing glasses/lenses (556,016).

3. YouGov surveyed 2,634 people on behalf of Privilege Insurance between 23rd and 26th September 2005. According to the Census 2001, the population of Great Britain is 58,789,194 of which 46,161,595 are over 17. Of these 73 per cent are drivers (33,697,964). Of...cont/

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these, 25 per cent of respondents have not had their eyes tested in the last 1 – 2 years equating to
11,1540,398 drivers.

4. Deacon Harle is the Joint Chief Executive and former clinical director at The Institute of Optometry, London. Following his work into the signs and symptomatology of retinal and vitreous detachment, he became research fellow in the Neville Chappell Research Clinic. He is an examiner and education advisor to The College of Optometrists and an education approver to the General Optical Council in the UK. He also attends as a stakeholder representative to the All Party Group on Eye Health, a UK cross party parliamentary group concerned with the promotion of eye health in the UK. He has acted in the past on a number of occasions as a medico-legal expert witness.

5. According to the DVLA, the law states that: A licence holder or applicant is suffering a prescribed disability if unable to meet the eyesight requirements, i.e. to read in good light (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle and containing letters and figures 79 millimetres high and 57 millimetres wide (i.e. pre 1.9.2001 font) at a distance of 20.5 metres, or at a distance of 20 metres where the characters are 50 millimetres wide (i.e. post 1.9.2001 font). If unable to meet this standard, the driver must not drive and the licence must be refused or revoked.

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