Road Safety GB has held exploratory talks with the organisations that represent the UK’s optometrists and dispensing opticians, who are lobbying for improved eyesight testing and vision screening for drivers and motorcyclists.
The three members of the Eye Health Alliance (ABDO, AOP and FODO) believe there is a need to improve the quality of the sight test element of the driving and motorcycle tests, to check that drivers/riders can see to the side as well as in the distance in order to see upcoming dangers, hazards and pedestrians and read road signs.
They are also lobbying for regular retesting because often changes in vision occur gradually over a period of time, and as such a driver/rider may not realise they have a problem with their vision.
Road Safety GB has agreed to assist the Eye Health Alliance by running an online survey to assess support among road safety professionals for changes to the eyesight test. The survey will be published on this website in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, for further information contact Heather Marshall at the Association of Optometrists.
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