Majority of drivers unaware of DVLA eyesight standards, according to new survey

dailyrecord.co.uk:

As many as 65 per cent of drivers are unaware of the eyesight requirements set by the DVLA, according to a survey. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency set out a standard which means you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away to be safe to drive.

But two in three drivers may be unaware that not wearing glasses or contacts when needed is actually breaking the law. Online contact lense retailer Lenstore surveyed 1,029 UK drivers to find out how often they wear their prescriptive eyewear for driving, when they last had a sight test, and their views around testing, driving and older generations on our roads.

The research provided some pretty shocking - and possibly dangerous - results. The survey concluded only 35 per cent of participants were aware of the eyesight standard set by the DVLA.You must be able to read a car registration plate from 20 metres away.Additionally, your eyesight must not be currently worse than 6/12 (decimal 0.5) on the Snellen scale.This is the eye chart used to measure visual acuity, you can find this on your prescription from your optician.Wearing your prescribed glasses or contact lenses allows you to meet the 6/12 (decimal 0.5) driving eyesight standard.If you drive on public roads without meeting this requirement, your licence may be revoked and you could face prosecution.The Lenstore research found just 48 per cent of drivers wear their prescribed glasses consistently.Over a quarter of respondents - 26 per cent - wear their glasses half of the time while driving their car, and one in ten said they do not wear them at all behind the wheel.Interestingly, 53 per cent of men wear their prescription glasses 100 per cent of the time while driving, compared to 44 per cent of