If you can’t see why this makes sense, there’s a decent chance you’re over 70.
ButteredNun on
I think that’s unfair. They know the way into town by now. Besides, when one sense fails others improve, so with big ears, they can echolocate.
Proper_Capital_594 on
Everyone that fails the eye test should be banned. Blind under 70’s are just as capable of killing people in a vehicle. Age is just a number.
Dude4001 on
Your eyesight is tested during a driving test anyway. If oldies don’t turn up to their Specsavers booking will their licence be revoked? Are opticians going to be required to input eyetest data into a DVLA database now? Is eyesight the only reason a 70 year old could be unsafe in the road? What about people with poor eyesight under 70 who don’t bother wearing glasses?
plawwell on
Everybody should have to do a mandatory eye test every five years. Everybody.
Financial_Series1386 on
Most car drivers need basic self awareness courses. I’m sorry. But the reaction times are so slow it’s insane.
The_Real_Giggles on
There’s nothing wrong with this. You shouldn’t be driving if you can’t see. Seems fairly obvious
biskino on
Shouldn’t anyone face a driving ban if they fail an eye test?
probablyaythrowaway on
Duno why they’re complaining quick drive to barnard castle and they’re sorted.
cursed_cucumbers on
More doctors should be sending referrals off to the DVLA. Blindness? Mobility issues? Dementia? If a patient has any of these and the doctor knows they have a license, it should be am instant referral to DVLA for an investigation.
This is not just about eyesight, it is about your physical and mental ability to manoeuvre a 1 tonne piece of metal amongst other 1 tonne pieces of metal and vulnerable flesh capsules (humans).
Practical-Purchase-9 on
Funny how they will target the old (who are potentially a risk) but very rarely permanently ban people actually committing serious driving offences.
Johnny_Rambo_ on
Let’s talk about ReformUK and their plant to private health care… oil guys you will cry too much
BoomSatsuma on
Regular sight tests should be part of the requirements of having a driving license for all ages. Sight tests aren’t exactly expensive.
Being able to see adequately before getting into a steel box that can kill easily is a no brainer.
FogduckemonGo on
Don’t think it should be an automatic ban. There are degrees of age-related vision loss. For the sake of peoples’ independence it should be graduated. Something like no night driving, no motorways, distance restrictions, restricted to driving vehicles with certain safety features etc.
Wedge_Of_Cake on
On a related note, it is absurd that opticians and other medical professionals are currently under no legal obligation to report to the DVLA eye conditions in patients that could seriously impair their ability to drive safely. They can report a patient under certain circumstances, but this can be easily avoided by the patient in question simply lying about intending to self-reporting their condition.
This new measure would at least be a step in the right direction.
Readshirt on
Could this have the effect of disproportionately banning older people who cannot afford more expensive corrective surgery or equipment
sjw_7 on
Good it should go further too and include reaction and cognitive tests as well. Far too often you see people bumbling about in cars totally oblivious to whats going on around them and doing really weird things on the road.
Seething-Angry on
As part of the Highway Code. You are responsible for ensuring your eyes are regularly checked. This is just a sensible extension of that. I get my eyes tested every 4 years. Unfortunately all eyes deteriorate with age period. The idea is that you take corrective measures and don’t endanger other people because vanity.
PinkLibraryStamp on
It’s a start. But how about a hazard perception test? It wasn’t part of their first driving test but it would be good to test reaction times and what they might perceive as hazard worthy while driving.
ECHOHOHOHO on
Man it’s horrible on both sides. I’ve known drivers over 80 whove been perfect but also much younger (maybe early 70s) go through wrong way in a one way like a roundabout
AdrianFish on
Good idea but it won’t come to anything. Any policy in this country that’s in danger of upsetting the pensioners will be quickly reversed.
21 Comments
If you can’t see why this makes sense, there’s a decent chance you’re over 70.
I think that’s unfair. They know the way into town by now. Besides, when one sense fails others improve, so with big ears, they can echolocate.
Everyone that fails the eye test should be banned. Blind under 70’s are just as capable of killing people in a vehicle. Age is just a number.
Your eyesight is tested during a driving test anyway. If oldies don’t turn up to their Specsavers booking will their licence be revoked? Are opticians going to be required to input eyetest data into a DVLA database now? Is eyesight the only reason a 70 year old could be unsafe in the road? What about people with poor eyesight under 70 who don’t bother wearing glasses?
Everybody should have to do a mandatory eye test every five years. Everybody.
Most car drivers need basic self awareness courses. I’m sorry. But the reaction times are so slow it’s insane.
There’s nothing wrong with this. You shouldn’t be driving if you can’t see. Seems fairly obvious
Shouldn’t anyone face a driving ban if they fail an eye test?
Duno why they’re complaining quick drive to barnard castle and they’re sorted.
More doctors should be sending referrals off to the DVLA. Blindness? Mobility issues? Dementia? If a patient has any of these and the doctor knows they have a license, it should be am instant referral to DVLA for an investigation.
This is not just about eyesight, it is about your physical and mental ability to manoeuvre a 1 tonne piece of metal amongst other 1 tonne pieces of metal and vulnerable flesh capsules (humans).
Funny how they will target the old (who are potentially a risk) but very rarely permanently ban people actually committing serious driving offences.
Let’s talk about ReformUK and their plant to private health care… oil guys you will cry too much
Regular sight tests should be part of the requirements of having a driving license for all ages. Sight tests aren’t exactly expensive.
Being able to see adequately before getting into a steel box that can kill easily is a no brainer.
Don’t think it should be an automatic ban. There are degrees of age-related vision loss. For the sake of peoples’ independence it should be graduated. Something like no night driving, no motorways, distance restrictions, restricted to driving vehicles with certain safety features etc.
On a related note, it is absurd that opticians and other medical professionals are currently under no legal obligation to report to the DVLA eye conditions in patients that could seriously impair their ability to drive safely. They can report a patient under certain circumstances, but this can be easily avoided by the patient in question simply lying about intending to self-reporting their condition.
This new measure would at least be a step in the right direction.
Could this have the effect of disproportionately banning older people who cannot afford more expensive corrective surgery or equipment
Good it should go further too and include reaction and cognitive tests as well. Far too often you see people bumbling about in cars totally oblivious to whats going on around them and doing really weird things on the road.
As part of the Highway Code. You are responsible for ensuring your eyes are regularly checked. This is just a sensible extension of that. I get my eyes tested every 4 years. Unfortunately all eyes deteriorate with age period. The idea is that you take corrective measures and don’t endanger other people because vanity.
It’s a start. But how about a hazard perception test? It wasn’t part of their first driving test but it would be good to test reaction times and what they might perceive as hazard worthy while driving.
Man it’s horrible on both sides. I’ve known drivers over 80 whove been perfect but also much younger (maybe early 70s) go through wrong way in a one way like a roundabout
Good idea but it won’t come to anything. Any policy in this country that’s in danger of upsetting the pensioners will be quickly reversed.