The Law on Eyesight and Driving

It goes without saying that good and effective eyesight is essential for safe driving.  Anyone who wants to drive any vehicle in this country must be able to see clearly at a certain distance.  A new driver must pass a basic eye test as part of the requirement of the standard driving test.  Eyesight can deteriorate over time and therefore it is a good idea to have a full eye examination and sight test on a regular basis.  According the the Royal National Institute for the Blind as many as a third of all drivers on British roads would be breaking the law and endangering themselves and other road users because of poor eyesight.  This amounts to approximately 13 million drivers with poor eyesight.

It is therefore absolutely essential to have an eye test before starting driving lessons and to regularly have your eyes tested. You should always tell the DVLA if you have any illness or condition which may affect your sight.  If you drive with poor or impaired eyesight you will be breaking the law and putting other road users at risk of having a road traffic accident.

Before you start the practical part of your driving test the examiner will ask you to read out the number plate on a stationery vehicle.  The distance requirement for the old style number plate is 20.5 metres.  You are allowed to have three attempts and to write the number plate down but if you are unable to fulfil this requirement you will fail the test.

If you have been involved in an accident that someone else has caused through negligence, such as knowing about a sight problem yet continuing to drive, then you could be entitled to make a compensation claim.  You should start by seeking the advice of an experience personal injury lawyer.