If you reapply for your driving licence, the DVLA will ask you to take a full eye test with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which will take place at a local driving test centre. You’ll have to pass this before you get your licence back and then pass the number plate eye test before you take your practical driving test.
Online driving eyesight tests
There are a number of online driving eyesight tests that you can find on the Internet that may give you some idea if there is a problem with your eyesight. However these have no diagnostic value and should not be taken as the only indication of whether you’re safe to drive.
A better course of action is to test yourself by trying to read a car number plate from 20 metres and contacting your doctor and the DVLA if you struggle to do so.
What if there’s a problem with your eyesight?
There is no mandatory retesting of driver’s eyesight in the UK, and it is the driver’s responsibility to report any deterioration in their eyesight to the DVLA. If you believe that your eyesight has diminished to the point that you are no longer safe to drive, or if you have any concerns that this could be the case, you should not drive a car. See a doctor and have your eyesight evaluated before getting behind the wheel.
If you do not tell the DVLA about any medical condition that affects your driving, you could be liable for a fine of up to £1,000 and you could be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident.
Drivers aged 70 and over must declare that their eyesight meets the minimum legal standards when renewing their licence. While it isn’t a requirement to provide evidence that the minimum requirement has been met, drivers who are involved in an accident could be held liable if it’s thought that poor eye health was a contributing factor.
The DVLA publishes a list of health conditions that can affect your driving that may be useful to check whether you need to contact them. If there’s any doubt, however, contact your doctor before driving.
Eyesight tests for HGV and bus drivers
The eyesight standards required to drive an HGV or a bus in the UK are more stringent than for cars. To get your HGV licence, you must have a visual acuity of at least 6/7.5 (or 0.8) on the Snellen scale in your best eye. Your worst eye must be at least 6/60 (or 0.1).
If you take the test wearing glasses, their corrective power can’t be more than 8 dioptres and you must have an uninterrupted visual field of at least 160 degrees. This field of vision must include an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right plus at least 30 degrees down.
Do you think drivers should be made to take eye tests? Let us know in the comments below…
