DOT chief medical officer calls for tougher eye test
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• A senior medical advisor to the Department of Transport says new eyesight standards for LGV drivers are not tough enough and could be strengthened in the future.
The news came on the same day that a major study revealed one in six drivers would fail the current eye test standard of reading a car number plate from 25 yards.
The standards, which come into force on 1 January after a six-month delay, will mean harder eye tests for new drivers when applying for an LGV licence and when taking medical checks once they reach 45.
Originally the tests were to apply to existing drivers as well but, following months of protests from affected drivers, the DOT dropped the plans and allowed them to keep grandfather rights. However, Dr Pat Diamond, the DOT's chief medical officer, says this will mean potentially dangerous drivers being allowed to keep working.
The fatality rate of truck drivers involved in accidents is three times higher than for car drivers and Diamond says that if a link between this and poor eyesight was made, the DOT could act.
She adds: "The hazard is there but we can't quantify the risk yet; the DOT will be monitoring the situation closely."
The research—the largest study of its kind in the UK with 8,000 people tested, including truck drivers—was carried out by Vauxhall and Aston University at Granada service stations. Although the findings won't be available until next year it could lead to a change in law, say police.