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Firms turning blind eye to sight tests
Page 9
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By Christopher Walton THOUSANDS OF British truck drivers could be driving with defective sight, according to one of the UK's leading opticians.
Research carried out by Specsavers suggests that less than half of the UK's truck operators have a policy to check the eyesight of their HGV drivers.
At the moment, there is no specific obligation for companies to check their drivers' sight. The only rule is for drivers to pass a mandatory sight test when first applying for their HGV licence and for subsequent licence renewals after they have passed the age of 45.
Unlike learner car drivers, provisional HGV licence holders are not required to read a number plate 20.5 metres away during their HGV test.
However, this is due to change by 2013 as the European Parliament has approved the introduction of regular checks of professional drivers' eyesight.
The current proposal is that holders of commercial driving licences will have to have their eves tested every five years, with private drivers tested every 10-15 years. Specsavers says its research suggests that a number of hauliers would welcome the measure, because it would make their drivers safer. However, the optical company does acknowledge that "Britain's business community doesn't always embrace EU directives with enthusiasm or warmth':