Short-sighted affair with regs
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by Nicky Clarke • The furore in the industry over the loss of grandfather rights for drivers facing new eyesight legislation is forcing the Government to think again.
Until two weeks ago Roads Minister Steven Norris was adamant that truck drivers would lose their licences if they failed the 30% tougher test which is due to come into force on 1 July. But in the face of vociferous lobbying by drivers, MPs and unions, he seems to have capitulated.
Grandfather rights
Following the news that other EU countries are to keep their grandfather rights, which means foreign one-eyed drivers will be allowed on UK roads, Norris has instructed Department of Transport officials to investigate how other countries are applying the new directive.
During consultation in October 1994 the DOT estimated that the loss of grandfather rights would cost "only" 3,000 drivers' jobs, out of a total of 1.6 million Group 2 licence holders.
The tougher rules would have the greatest effect on oneeyed drivers because drivers must now have a minimum standard in each eye separately without wearing glasses or contact lenses.
Announcing his decision last year, Norris said: "Road safety is not best served if drivers of these types of vehicle are allowed to continue to drive simply on the basis of their licensing history rather than any criteria relating to safety. Only a relatively small number of existing drivers will be affected by the introduction of the new standards ...accidents involving these large vehicles could be disastrous and I am satisfied that the system of grandfather rights is no longer justifiable in terms of road safety."
Norris seemed suddenly fearful that drivers could be blinded and therefore unsafe if their glasses or lenses fell off or out—but he admits that there is no research or statistical evidence to support this fear.
That's why CM, along with sister magazine Optician, will be offering free eyesight screening at Truckfest on 5-6 May. This will give the first indica
tion of the true impact of the new law.
The United Road Transport Union believes Norris' decision to ask our Continental neighbours how they are interpreting the new law shows he is paving the way for a U-turn on his decision.
This would certainly be welcome news for some.
One-eyed Roger Walker, who has been driving for 25 years, says: "I've clocked up hundreds of thousands of miles safely with monocular vision. If it has affected how safely I drive I would say it has made me even safer—I have always been determined to have an unblemished record just so that no one could point the finger at me."