Specsavers’s vision screening roadshow this year revealed that one in three drivers do not meet the legal vision standard for driving.

Of these, four out of five were unaware that they fell short of the legal requirement.

As part of Specsavers’s research, employers were also asked what they believe is included in a full vision test to check eyesight is legally good enough for driving.

Three out of four said reading a number plate at 20.5 metres, while a similar percentage also believed that the ability to see at short and long distances was tested, as well as peripheral vision, the ability to see in different light conditions and refocus between near and far objects.

In reality, to be granted a driving licence an individual still only has to be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres.

However, there are a number of other capabilities that are required for driving, including peripheral vision, monocular vision and sensitivity to light conditions.

An individual could pass the number plate test and then never have their eyesight checked again and either not notice, or not report, a decline in their vision.

This deterioration of eyesight may only be discovered when it is too late and an accident has occurred.   

Fleets urged to back Go 20 campaign

Fleet operators are being encouraged to promote a life-saving slow down message, which was launched during Road Safety Week (November 19-25).

Road safety charity Brake, which organises the annual event, is appealing to drivers to ‘Go 20’ to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

The Go 20 campaign highlights that slower speeds in towns, cities and villages can help deliver a post-2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating pedestrian and cyclist casualties, which increased in 2011.

Many local authorities already implement town and city-wide 20 limits.

Go 20 calls for more authorities to follow suit, the government to work towards 20mph being the accepted limit in communities and drivers to pledge to Go 20 around homes, schools and shops, even where 30mph limits remain.