Nearly 11 million UK drivers (26%) are currently overdue an eye test or haven't had one in the past two years, putting them at risk of a £1,000 fine and three penalty points if they drive without the necessary glasses or contact lenses. One in seven (5.5 million) have never had an eye test.
Legal requirements and consequences
Under Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive with eyesight that doesn't meet the prescribed standard. Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, roughly the length of five parked cars, and should have an eye test every two years.
MoneySuperMarket's survey found that 7.6 million drivers (nearly one in five) admitted to driving without the glasses or contact lenses they need, despite 67% (28.2 million) being aware of the possible insurance consequences.
Expert advice and future changes
Alicia Hempstead, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 says that if a driver has a visual impairment, they must not get behind the wheel without the proper means to see clearly."
She added: "Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away, the equivalent of around five parked cars. Breaking this rule could lead to a £1,000 fine, as well as three penalty points."
Hempstead also noted: "Not only are there legal ramifications to not wearing glasses or contact lenses behind the wheel, but there are also financial ones too should you get into an accident, as your car insurance could be invalidated if you do not meet the standards of vision."
The warning comes as recent news revealed that drivers over 70 could soon face mandatory tests under Andy Burnham's new road safety strategy, with those not meeting standards risking licence withdrawal. According to YouGov, 37 million UK drivers (88%) agree that mandatory eye tests for older drivers should be introduced.
