Police are pulling over drivers to test their eyesight, and those who fail could have their licence revoked on the spot and face a £1,000 fine, according to BBC Morning Live expert and former police officer Rav Wilding.
Operation Insight and the 20-metre test
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Mr Wilding explained that a crackdown known as Operation Insight is currently taking place in Chester, with similar checks happening across the UK with other forces. Drivers are being stopped and required to take a roadside eye test to ensure they meet the legal standard to drive.
The test involves reading a normal car number plate from 20 metres away, which Mr Wilding compared to the length of five parked cars. He noted that even with 20/20 vision, he found the test harder than expected when he had to redo it as part of his motorcycle test.
What happens if you fail
Mr Wilding warned that failing the test can result in a licence being revoked immediately. Continuing to drive without a licence is itself an offence, and motorists would have to reapply to the DVLA with proof of an eyesight test meeting required standards.
He urged anyone with doubts to book an eye test, noting that free tests are available for those over 60 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in Scotland for those over 60 with certain medical conditions. Those over 70 must declare they are fit to drive every three years when reapplying for their licence.
Planned changes for older drivers
Under a Department for Transport (DfT) Road Safety Strategy plan, drivers aged 70 and over will no longer be able to rely on self-declaration when renewing their licence every three years. Instead, they will face compulsory vision testing. A consultation ran from 7 January 2026 to 11 May 2026, and the government is analysing feedback alongside organisations including The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists.
Police forces are also running the Is Your Vision Roadworthy? campaign with 20-metre number plate checks. Under Cassie's Law, any driver who fails a roadside check can have their licence revoked immediately if deemed unsafe.
Mr Wilding added that failing the test could result in three points on a licence and a fine of up to £1,000, but stressed the greater concern is the potential danger to the driver, passengers, other road users and pedestrians.
