Nottinghamshire Police have issued a warning that motorists who drive with poor eyesight risk a fine, penalty points and possibly a driving ban. The force said: "That's the warning from our Roads Policing Unit as the clocks go back and darker evenings set in."
Roadside checks planned as evenings darken
The clocks went back on Sunday, October 25, meaning sunset is earlier. According to dateandtime, sunset is around 4.42pm today, October 27 - which is similar to other cities across the UK. By the start of November, much of the UK should see the sun setting at 4.30pm.
In the coming weeks, officers will carry out extra roadside checks to make sure drivers' eyesight is good enough to drive, mainly by asking them to read a number plate from 20 metres away. As part of a national road safety campaign, drivers involved in a crash or stopped for any reason can expect an eyesight test.
The force added: "Those who fail face prosecution for driving with uncorrected defective eyesight and can face a fine of up to £1,000, three penalty points and possible disqualification from driving." Results will also be fed into a national eyesight survey by the Older Drivers Forum.
Legal eyesight requirements and Cassie's Law
The law requires that all drivers be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres, or about five car lengths; have a visual acuity of 6/12, measured on the Snellen eye chart scale used by opticians (wearing prescription eyewear, if necessary) and have an adequate field of vision. Additional standards apply to lorry and bus drivers.
Under legislation known as Cassie's Law, drivers who fail a roadside number plate test could have their licence revoked on the spot if a police officer deems them unsafe to be on the road. Nottinghamshire Police explains that officers can request an urgent revocation of a licence through the DVLA if they believe the safety of other road users will be put at risk if a driver remains on the road.
Introduced in 2013 under Cassie's Law - named after 16-year-old Cassie McCord - the power followed her death after an 87-year-old driver lost control of his car in Colchester, Essex. It later emerged he had failed a police eyesight test days earlier, but a legal loophole meant he was still allowed to keep driving.
Officer highlights visual risks
Detective Inspector Jamie Moore, head of roads policing at Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Most drivers know that excess speed, worn tyres or mobile phone use can result in a fine or penalty points, but they are perhaps less likely to realise that driving with defective eyesight is punishable with a fine of up to £1,000, three penalty points and possible disqualification.
"That's because poor vision significantly increases your chances of being involved in a road traffic collision. Ninety per cent of the information we use as drivers is visual, so even a small deterioration in our vision can significantly increase our chances of being involved in a collision."
Real-world examples include drivers who have forgotten their glasses, or people who have not had an eyesight test for several years and are perhaps unaware of the level of deterioration in their vision.
"Sadly, there will also be people out there who know their eyesight is too poor for them to be on the road and who are knowingly putting lives at risk. But whatever the reason, it is our responsibility as drivers to ensure that our vision is roadworthy, and that we are wearing appropriate eyewear to meet the required standards on the roads."
