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Press Release

Optical Confederation still concerned about DVLA's use of number plate test

19 December 2011

Responding to the Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) second consultation on drivers' vision, the Optical Confederation reiterated its position that, by relying on the number plate test, the UK is falling far behind best practice of our European neighbours. The Confederation also challenged the proposal to lower the vision standard and raised concerns about the assessment of professional drivers.

The Confederation remains very concerned that the UK Government intends to continue to assess drivers vision using the number plate test and refuses to introduce further mandatory assessments of vision during the driving career. In addition, the Confederation has highlighted its concerns over the plan to shorten the distance used in the number plate test from 20 to 17.5 metres. The Confederation feels this proposal is unnecessary, increases road safety concerns and further distances the UK from the agreed European vision standard.

The Confederation has welcomed the proposals that healthcare professionals will be able to assess against a visual acuity standard of 6/12, which will assist when advising patients on their fitness to drive, and that exceptional cases falling just short of the standard will be given fair consideration.

Geoff Roberson, on behalf of the Optical Confederation, said 'we are particularly concerned about inconsistencies in the Government's proposals, in particular conflicting requirements for Group 2 drivers. The requirements published in the consultation documents are not comparable to recent Government correspondence on diabetes, epilepsy and vision, which indicated that these professional drivers will also be assessed with a 17.5 metre number plate test'.

Jenny Gowen on behalf of the Optical Confederation said 'we welcome the Medical Advisory Panel's recognition that the number plate test is not an accurate method of assessing acuity as defined by the European Driving Licence Directives, which the Optical Confederation, along with road safety, transport and other health organisations, has argued from the outset'.

Mark Nevin added 'we hope that the Government will at the very least commit to including a clear reminder about vision when drivers renew their licence. The Optical Confederation will continue to press the UK Government and European authorities to ensure that all drivers meet and continue to meet the basic visual requirements to drive safely'.



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