Norville Opticians warns of more unsafe drivers on the nation’s roads

Norville Opticians has added its concern t about proposals to reduce the medical requirements for drivers across the UK. The national press is reporting that the country’s roads will get more dangerous “as eye tests are made easier”.

The move follows publication of a consultation document issued by the Department of Transport and DVLA outlining their plans for implementing the eyesight requirements contained in EU directives on driving licences. The proposed changes for eyesight include reducing the distance from which a number plate test can be read for the drivers of cars and motorcycles and changes to the vision assessment for drivers of buses and lorries.

Norville Opticians managing director Adrian Street said: “We concur with the serious concern being expressed by the Optical Confederation. We think the existing eye tests are totally inadequate and should be replaced with a more comprehensive eye examination along the lines of those already carried out in Ireland where professional drivers also have a further eye test later in their career. The current tests date from the 1930s and are unreliable for a
number of reasons. We would like to see the EU regulations replace them with a more standardised test.”