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Original poster

Police to start testing eyesight of stopped drivers - sounds good to me!

21 replies

BossWitch · 03/09/2018 10:23

Saw this on the bbc news website this morning. Three forces are starting it but hopefully it will catch on. Basically if you get pulled over, you'll have to do the 'read a number plate at 20 metres' test, like on your driver's test. If you fail it, they'll revoke your licence.

I know it's a drop in the ocean but it will hopefully make a bit of a difference. I've read so many threads on here from posters worried that their elderly relatives are going to cause a serious accident but refuse to give up their licence. (Not that the only people driving with poor eyesight are old, before anyone piles on to state the obvious, yes young people can have crap eyesight too, etc etc).

I spent 5 minutes the other day watching a very old, frail man GETTING IN to his car. Just the physical process of getting from pavement to driver's door, opening door, and getting into the seat took a full 5 minutes. Then when he did eventually pull away he needed two attempts as he crunched the gears the first time. There would be no way that this man would be capable of reacting quickly enough to avoid a crash/ hitting a pedestrian. I can't help but think that this kind of driver might get picked up by this new check, and be quite relieved about that!

OP posts:

Original poster

BossWitch · 03/09/2018 10:23

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45387965

Forgot to post link!

OP posts:

GoatWoman · 03/09/2018 11:06

Very good idea. I had a terrifying near miss with an elderly driver the other day. It properly shat me up!

BertieBotts · 03/09/2018 11:08

I'll have to tell my mum. Last time I saw her she told me she doesn't bother to wear her glasses when driving locally any more because she "doesn't feel she really needs them" WTF? But she puts them on if she's going somewhere new.

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Driving & parking

specialsubject · 03/09/2018 11:40

tell your mum to put her bloody specs on and get an eye test to reduce the odds of killing someones partner, sibling, parent, child.

PerkingFaintly · 03/09/2018 11:43

About time!

FitzChivalry · 03/09/2018 11:43

Good. It's actually bizarre that an eye test for driving every few years isn't mandatory anyway, not just for elderly people, for every driver.

I think you don't realise how bad your eyes were until you actually have an eye test, there's probably plenty of people who think they are fine but aren't.

SapphireSeptember · 03/09/2018 11:46

About bloody time! There's a woman who comes into my workplace who can't see the menu board (and doesn't wear glasses), yet I know she drives, which I find shocking. I'm pretty sure I can't read a licence plate at 20 metres even with my glasses, hence why I've never bothered to learn to drive.

BartholinsSister · 03/09/2018 11:46

How do they arrange for there to be a number plate exactly 20m away from where you get pulled over?

SapphireSeptember · 03/09/2018 11:59

They get a tape measure, measure out 20m, and then park their police car at the end of the tape measure. I saw it on Police Interceptors.

Original poster

BossWitch · 03/09/2018 12:21

I think a public awareness drive on this would work wonders for opticians - I know I can do the 20m thing but it's still got me thinking, hmm, about time I booked another eye test!

OP posts:

mintich · 03/09/2018 12:38

I'm an optometrist and we are currently campaigning to be able to report to DVLA if we know people are driving despite our advice not to. It's scary how many people do, and the excuses they give.
There is also a petition for drivers to have compulsory visual screening
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221410

everybodysang · 03/09/2018 13:24

this is such good news.

A very good friend of ours was killed crossing the road a couple of years ago. He was thrown up into the air and died a couple of days later. It was so dreadful. It turned out that the driver needed glasses, but didn't actually use them (or even know where they were). He thought he was ok.

What was even worse was that the driver was only 21 - so not just our friend's life gone, a young man who had really screwed up his own life too. PP above talking about her mum not wearing her glasses locally made me shudder - do ask her to. It's just not worth it.

DGRossetti · 03/09/2018 14:10

How do they arrange for there to be a number plate exactly 20m away from where you get pulled over?

Presumably same as a driving test ? Choose a car obviously further away, and if that's problematic, get the tape measure out ?

Remember the vision requirements are the bare minimum. There are also other visual defects which might not be picked up.

MrsExpo · 03/09/2018 14:51

Pp who is an optometrist, I’m shocked that you’re not obliged to do so, never mind you (as a profession) campaigning to be allowed to report. Why on earth would anyone have an issue with this .... ?

There is a definite need for a change in the law on this issue and well done to the three police forces who are doing it. Let’s hope that their data supports a change for tougher rules for the good of everyone.

mintich · 03/09/2018 15:33

Data protection stops us!! We can tell their GP but even then we need the patients permission. Some optometrists have gone to DVLA and found themselves in trouble. It's completely frustrating.

DGRossetti · 03/09/2018 15:39

Data protection stops us

are there not exemptions for legally mandated processes ? Indeed, for the police to do their job ?

Or, to flip things. If a person were to be suspected of the offence of driving with deficient vision, and the police were to contact their optician/GP, would that answer of that said person be "jog on, Mr. Policeman" ?

Or, to play devils advocate, what if the PP who mentioned someone who can't read a menu, yet happily drives off were to give that persons name and car details to police, would they have a problem with "data protection" ?

megletthesecond · 03/09/2018 15:40

I'm surprised it's not currently checked tbh.

SquareEyedSqu1d · 03/09/2018 15:49

Thanks for the link to the petition, Mintich - signed.

mintich · 03/09/2018 16:54

There is an exemption to the police contacting us as that has happened before in the case of accidents.
We just have to note that we have advised them that they are not meeting driving standards and preferably get the patient to sign to say that they have been told. Some of my colleagues have gone ahead and reported anyway but had to go through fitness to practice hearings due to patient complaints!!
Another argument is that we are taking away someone's independence ( in the case that they don't meet driving standards even with spectacles) something I don't agree with as they could take away someone's life.
Like a PP said, one of the comments made most often is that they know the area so don't need glasses!!! It's scary.

Sirzy · 03/09/2018 16:59

I think all drivers should have to send an up to date copy of their prescription, along with evidence they have suitable glasses/contacts if needed, to the dvla every two years.

The lack of expectation on vision for driving is scary!

DGRossetti · 03/09/2018 17:02

Worth noting that as the population aging bubble progresses, there will be greater ballot-box resistance to a lot of (mainly) age-related bars on various activities. Possibly aided by younger folk who'd rather not get stuck as Mom and Pops taxi in reverse.

The real answer would be public transport. Serious public transport, not the toy buses and train sets that pass for it at the moment.

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