As World Glaucoma Week gets underway, GEM Motoring Assist has reminded British motorists about the importance of having their eyes tested to avoid road accidents due to poor vision.
David Williams, MBE, CEO of the road safety charity and breakdown cover company GEM Motoring Assist, highlighted just how important good vision is to road safety:
"Poor vision is a significant factor when it comes to road safety and it is very worrying that the Government is even contemplating relaxing the vision test during driving tests. In fact, we believe the test should be much more stringent and there should be rules in place to ensure motorists have their eyes tested professionally, on a more frequent basis."
Currently each person that takes a driving test in the UK is required to read a licence plate from a distance of 20 metres. However, the government is considering reducing this distance to only 17.5 metres.
Tightening driving rules
Taking into account the proposed changes in government legislation, and the fact that up to four million UK drivers are failing to meet minimum eyesight requirements for driving, GEM Motoring Assist is calling British motorists and institutions related to the motoring industry to take this issue more seriously.
Among other improvements, GEM suggested introducing more regular compulsory eye tests for licence holders.
"With more frequent, obligatory eye tests for motorists there is a higher chance of catching problems, such as glaucoma, at a much earlier stage. Not only that, but we know that taking these steps would help reduce the number of accidents caused by poor vision," GEM said.
GEM has suggested that the vision test before the practical driving test is relatively undemanding, with only 2,000 people failing each year.
He concluded, "With evidence showing that many motorists are taking unnecessary risks with their eyesight on the roads we are urging the Government not to relax the rules but make them tougher."
