Two thirds of drivers who use glasses or contacts are ‘putting off’ correcting their vision and risk a £1,000 fine for risking accidents, new data has shown.
Elderly and visually-impaired drivers are being warned they should get their eyes tested to avoid the risk of causing accidents on the road.
However, most people who need to get their eyes fixed are avoiding treatment, according to data from the Association of Optometrists (AOP).
The research also found that almost a fifth of people who require glasses to drive have not had their eyes checked for at least three years.
Putting off eye tests for such a length of time could be in breach of driving laws if it posed a risk to road safety.
(Stock Image) Collisions involving people aged 70 or over are due to eyesight issues 42 per cent of the time
The AOP has warned that the reluctance of drivers to get eye treatment could be a serious threat to road safety.
Shockingly, the group also found that one in 10 Britons say they would keep driving even if their vision was deemed to be unsafe.
Almost half of the country’s optometrists have also reported dealing with patients who stayed on the road despite their vision being legally classed as too dangerous to be behind the wheel.
Around 3,000 people are killed or injured by a driver with bad eyesight every year in the UK.
Collisions which involved drivers over the age of 70 in the UK were due to sight issues more than 42 per cent of the time, according to figures from the Department for Transport.
Police now plan to carry out vision screening on Britain’s road to ensure motorists are not driving with untreated eyesight.
Those found to be doing so could be fined £1,000, handed three penalty points on their licence and risk disqualification.
Drivers who are stopped by police will be asked to read a number plate 20ft away.
If they fail to do so, they could have their licence taken away immediately.
However, it is up to motorists to report any decline in eyesight to the DVLA themselves.
The AOP criticised the government for not taking enough action to keep Britain’s roads safer by reviewing drivers’ eyesight.
Adam Sampson, the AOP’s chief executive, said: ‘It’s deeply concerning that a 17 year-old who can read a number plate from 20 metres away when they take their driving test, may continue to drive with no further checks for the rest of their life.
‘We have to ask ourselves why the UK system, which relies on self-reporting and a number plate test, continues to operate under a law first introduced in 1937 to the detriment of an individuals’ safety.’
‘Sight loss can often be gradual, and people may not notice changes that could affect their ability to drive so it’s important to remember that regular vision checks are an essential part of helping to stay safe as a driver.’
