Poor eyesight costs dirvers’ licence “and invalidates insurance”

The number of drivers in the UK that have had their licenses revoked due to failing eyesight has more than doubled in the last four years.

New figures obtained following a Freedom of Information request by The Co-operative Motor Group* show that the number of drivers (Group 1 – car, motorcycle etc) unfit to be on the road has risen from 1,597 in 2006 to 4,009 in 2010 – a rise of 151 per cent.

 
There are 24 different reasons given for failing eyesight in relation to driving, with glaucoma by far the most common and responsible for 1,146 of the 4,009 lost licences in 2010 (up from 381 in 2006 – a rise of 200 per cent).

The next most common cause is retinopathy – damage to the retina - (up from 367 in 2006 to 717 in 2010 – a rise of 95 per cent), followed by a visual field defect (up from 221 in 2006 to 494 in 2010 – a rise of 124 per cent) and cataracts (up from 155 in 2006 to 464 in 2010 – a rise of 199 per cent).**Tony Guest, Managing Director of The Co-operative Motor Group, said: “Good eyesight is essential to safe motoring, and we would urge anybody who has concerns over their vision to contact a specialist.  There is no room for complacency when it comes to road safety.

“Many motorists have not had an eye test for years, and these latest figures highlight that – with lost licences on the increase – the need for more frequent testing is higher than ever.”

The law demands that any driver with concerns over their eyesight should see a doctor or eye specialist and – if they are advised to do so – they must then contact the DVLA to inform them if they have a condition that makes it dangerous to drive. Failure to do so is punishable by a fine of up to £1,000, and will also invalidate driver insurance.

* Figures obtained from the DVLA by Freedom of Information Act

** Table of medical conditions