Road Safety Wales is promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for drivers of all ages, in support of a week-long nationwide initiative.
National Eye Health Week takes place this week – and today (20 Sept) has a focus on the importance of good vision for safe driving.
Road Safety Wales warns that although eyesight often deteriorates as people get older, eye conditions can develop at any age.
It is calling on the country’s road users to have an eye test every two years “whether you already have corrective eyewear or not, or more often if your optician suggests it.”
Teresa Ciano, chair of Road Safety Wales, says this “can not only help to make sure you meet the minimum eyesight standards for driving or riding, but may also identify some other health conditions that you may not yet be aware of, such as diabetes or high blood pressure”.
She said: “Please be aware that if you drive with eyesight below the minimum legal standard you are increasing the risk of a collision, a fine, penalty points and potential prosecution depending on the severity of any incident that may occur.”
Under law, drivers and motorcyclists must be able to read a vehicle registration plate from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres if the vehicle was registered before September 2001) wearing glasses or contact lenses if required.
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