Drivers who fail a roadside eyesight test can have their licence revoked instantly and face a £1,000 fine, ex-police officer Rav Wilding has warned on BBC Morning Live. He explained the test involves reading a number plate from 20 metres away, the equivalent of five parked cars, and said many motorists are below the minimum legal standard.
Police crackdown explained
Mr Wilding confirmed police are currently stopping motorists and checking their eyesight under Operation Insight in Chester, with other forces running similar checks across the UK. He told hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton: “This is really important. We’re talking about something that’s currently happening in Chester. It’s called Operation Insight, but it’s happening around the UK as well with other forces where they’re stopping vehicles and requiring a roadside eye test to make sure that drivers are up to the required standard, legal standard to drive a car on the roads.”
He settled the debate on what the test involves, saying: “It is something that I think we should be aware of because there’s a lot of drivers that are below the minimum standard and you might not know what the standard actually is. And the test really quite simply is reading a normal car license plate from 20m away. That is the same as five parked cars together.”
What happens if you fail
Mr Wilding warned that failing the test could lead to the licence being taken away on the spot. He said: “What you don’t want to happen is you be pulled over by police to do the test and fail because if you do, you can actually have your license revoked. It can be taken away on the spot. If you were to then try and continue to drive, that is an offence in itself because you currently don’t have a license, and you actually have to reapply to get your license back via the DVLA.”
He advised anyone with doubts to have an eyesight test, noting that over-60s in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can get one free, while in Scotland they are free for over-60s with certain medical conditions. He added that over-70s must declare they are fit to drive every three years via the DVLA, and those with a medical condition affecting eyesight must support the declaration with documentation showing they meet the required standards.
New rules for older drivers
Under a new Department for Transport (DfT) Road Safety Strategy plan, drivers aged 70 and over will no longer rely on self-declaration when renewing their licence every three years. Instead, they will face compulsory vision testing. The DfT consultation ran from 7 January 2026 to 11 May 2026, and the government is analysing feedback alongside groups including The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists.
Police forces across the UK continue running the Is Your Vision Roadworthy? campaign, conducting 20-metre number plate checks. Under Cassie’s Law, drivers who fail a roadside check can have their licence revoked immediately if deemed unsafe. Mr Wilding added: “If you fail it, you could get three points on your licence. You could get up to a £1,000 fine. But let’s not forget what is far far more serious is the potential danger to yourself, to your passengers, and other road users and pedestrians.”
