Drivers in Oxfordshire could be voiding their car insurance and risk losing their license, without even realising it.

To mark Road Safety Week 2021, contact lens retailer Lenstore surveyed 1,029 UK drivers to find out about their driving habits in relation to their eyesight.  

The research found less than half of drivers (48 per cent) wear their prescribed glasses 100 per cent of the time when on the road, compared to a third of contact lens wearers.

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Wearing prescribed glasses or contact lenses allows you to meet the 6/12 (decimal 0.5) standard on the Snellen scale, which is what is required to drive.

If you drive on public roads without meeting this requirement, your licence may be revoked and you could be prosecuted. 

One in ten drivers break the law by not wearing their prescribed glasses at all when driving, risking voiding their car insurance and losing their licence. 

The research also found that 65 per cent of motorists do not know the minimum eyesight requirement for driving.

The legal eyesight standard set out by the DVLA means that you must be able to read a number plate 20 metres away.

When asked about the vision requirement, 65 per cent of drivers gave the wrong answer, citing distance over or under the minimum standard, compared to just 35 per cent of drivers who correctly answered.

The majority (67%) of people surveyed also believe drivers over the age of 60 should not be allowed to drive on public roads. 

Roshni Patel MCOptom, expert optometrist, said: “With several accidents still taking place on the roads as a result of poor vision, it is crucial for drivers to be receiving regular eye examinations.

“Motorists should take an eye test at least once every two years to ensure they are fit for the roads and not causing any dangers to themselves or others. If you experience a deterioration in your eyesight or a change in your vision it is important to arrange an eye test as soon as possible.

“Poor eyesight can lead to a slower reaction to things happening on the road which can therefore increase the chances of an accident taking place.

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“As well as getting your eyes tested regularly, drivers should also be extra vigilant when driving during particular times of the year and in certain conditions. For example in the winter months, the sun tends to rise and fall during peak commuter times, which as a result can impact the driver’s vision and prevent them from seeing.

“Drivers can take easy precautions such as always having sunglasses stored in their car, using their visor and ensuring their windscreen is clean. Allowing that extra distance between the cars around you and slowing down is another way to help reduce an accident in difficult visual conditions.”

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