The reg u tat ions to ensure that vehicles are
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roadworthy are numerous and involved. It is strange, then, that the rules regarding a driver's eyesight are much more lax. Good vision is arguably the most important aspect of driving safely, but it is largely disregarded as a priority in the eyes of the law.
Perhaps much of the problem starts at the highest level. If a government has few regulations in place, then the majority of drivers may he less inclined to take action for themselves. Thankfully, the EU has now taken steps to improve the situation. It has finally been decided that the requirements for vision when driving set in the 1930s when driving conditions and vehicles themselves were radically different from today are no longer sufficient.
At present, the only prerequisite for any driver, even commercial drivers, is essentially to be able to pass the 'number-plate test: All this, however, is about to change.
New legislation
New legislation, passed in the European Union Parliament in 2006, is set to be introduced in member states in 2011.The current proposal is that holders of commercial licences will have to have their eyes tested every five years. and holders of private licences will be tested every 10 to 15 years.
Each member state has until 2013 to translate this directive into national law. This could have a major impact on commercial drivers and their employers. The change to the law could, however, come as quite a surprise to many.
Recent research conducted by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare reveals that three-quarters of employers (78%) are unaware of the impending legislation.
With the rules covering both private and commercial drivers, hopefully, driving safety will be improved from all angles. Final details of the new laws are still to be agreed, but we're hopeful that the new rules will include much fuller eye examinations and not just the basic test of being able to see clearly over a set distance.
Areas for consideration
When considering visual performance for driving, three vital areas should be covered: • visual acuity (clearness of sight) • visual fields • tints and sunglasses
Visual acuity
Currently, for any category of vehicle, the driver must be able to read, in good light. with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary, an old-style number plate at 20.5 metres (67ft), or a new-style number plate at 20 metres (65ft).
Often, attempts are made to equate this to the eyechart used by optometrists (the Snellen Chart). The numberplate test does not actually relate to an exact Snellcn acuity (the spacing between the letters is different front that on a number plate, and this can have an effect) but a standard of 6/10 is generally accepted as approximately equivalent to the number plate standard.
In the term '20/20 vision', the top number refers to the distance of the letter chart in feet, in the UK optometrists work in metres, so the metric equivalent is '6/6' .
For medium/large goodsor passenger-carrying vehicles, drivers must, by law, have: • a visual acuity of at least 6/9 (or 20/30) in the better eye; and • a visual acuity of at least 6/12 (or 20/40) in the worse eye; and • if these are achieved by correction, the uncorrected visual acuity in each eye must be no less than 3/60(10/200).
To many drivers, these figures may be fairly meaningless, which is precisely why it is so vital for eye examinations to be carried out by fully-qualified optometrists. Regular testing is also crucial, since previous surveys have shown that about 10% of individuals tested failed the number-plate test due to an incorrect or It is worth remembering there are visual requirements for tinted windscreens and side glazing on vehicles.
Where tinted windscreens are used, this reduced transmission must be taken into account in any tint included in the spectacle lenses.
outdated prescription in their glasses or contact lenses. It is not enough to assume that because someone wears a correction for driving, they meet the required standards.
It should also be considered that, in addition to clear distance vision, drivers require a clear view of the instruments in a vehicle. If needed. this is best achieved through the use of a properly fitted set of varifocals.
Visual fields
While sight is vital for driving, so too is 'field-of-view: This is concerned with a person's peripheral vision, vital for overtaking, approaching a junction, etc. If either of these is not adequate, then driving ability will be seriously impaired.
There are complicated measurements for field-of-view, best understood by a trained optometrist, but a safe field-of-view is basically defined as at least 120 degrees on the horizontal. There should also be no significant defect in the binocular field, which encroaches within 20 degrees of fixation above or below the horizontal meridian.
The fashion for glasses with deep sides is of some concern, because this will have an impact on a driver's peripheral visual field. For similar reasons, plastic frames with thick rims should be avoided. The best frame choice for driving would be a metal frame with standard depth sides
Simple choice
With the moral issue of caring for the safety of employees and the risk under the Corporate Manslaughter Act (see panel, left), many forward-thinking firms have chosen to provide regular eye examinations for their staff. A full eye examination with a qualified optometrist can cost just a few pounds, but, if undertaken at least every two years, can vastly improve the chances of staying safe on the roads.
Full eye examinations can aid with the detection of wider health problems. like diabetes and, far from being an extra expense, sonic firms have even had their insurance premiums reduced by introducing such a policy.
The only thing left to try to understand is why legislation has not been passed before now. •