Clarity of vision for driving

All drivers need to be able to demonstrate they can meet the standards of vision for driving. How as a business do you review that your drivers continue to meet this requirement?

Whilst most people with corrected vision are normally reminded to undertake an eye test voluntarily every two years², for professional drivers eyesight is tested as part of the medical examination undertaken when they reach the age of 45, and every five years from this point to the age of 65³.

Is this sufficient to manage the risk of drivers driving with potentially inadequately corrected eyesight?

Driver Licence restriction codes

It is a requirement to notify the DVLA if corrected vision is required for driving.⁴ The DVLA will add a 01 restriction code to a driver’s licence and this information will be reviewed by the police if a driver is involved in an incident.

Do you check licence restriction codes as part of your driver licence check process?

Cost could be an issue

Drivers requiring corrected eyesight to meet the minimum standards for driving are faced with the dilemma and the cost of obtaining and maintaining glasses. If a driver requires corrected vision, it is also a legal requirement that drivers are able to meet the standards for vision for driving at all times.

Therefore to cover all situations a driver may choose to have one pair of glasses for normal daytime and night time use whilst driving, and one tinted pair for bright sunlight. However, to fully meet requirements it could be considered necessary to have a third pair of glasses available to cover for all eventualities. Whilst opticians do have various two for one offers, obtaining glasses can be a significant financial expense, particularly if a driver additionally needs corrected vision for reading.

Risk Management

Requesting that anyone in your business driving whilst at work should undertake an eye test every two years seems an appropriate way of managing this risk. At the very least, testing in line with the DVLA requirements stipulated for professional drivers should take place.

There is a fine line of distinction between eyesight testing and eyesight checks. In addition to driver licence checks it is possible and not unreasonable to exercise the duty of care an employer must ensure employees are kept safe whilst undertaking at work activities, to request drivers undertake a rudimentary check of eyesight. Clearly the outcome of this check can then be the request that a driver undertakes a full eyesight test undertaken by a qualified optician.

Do you do enough to make sure this risk is effectively controlled?

The technology now available to opticians provides not only an accurate diagnostic of a driver’s eyesight but can also provide pointers to other potential health issues, which if discovered early can contribute to enabling drivers to keep healthy, safe and well.

To find out more about this technology and for advice around the topic, please get in contact with Andrew Millinship.