In 2009, Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn was contacted by constituent Joy Barnes whose niece Fiona Buckley was killed while crossing the road in 2008 by a driver with defective eyesight.

This moved Munn to start a campaign for driver eye tests to be carried out by qualified practitioners using a scientifically-recognised method – instead of the number-plate test – and for drivers to be re-tested at least every 10 years, at the same time as applying for a new licence photocard.

“I believe there needs to more guidance and support for employers of people who spend the majority of their time driving for work,” said Munn.

“This could be done through the existing systems we have in place with the HSE and DVLA.”

However, health and safety legal expert Gerard Forlin QC suggested that any move to mandate eyesight tests would be unmanageable.

“It’s now accepted that employers need to check on a regular basis that employees who drive for work have a valid driving licence,” he said.

“It is however debatable whether this norm should extend to eyesight tests, where enforcement would be virtually impossible. If, on the other hand, there were specific high risk driving tasks it would then be arguable whether extra checks may need to be taken by employers.

“Further, in the advent of a road accident it is likely that police and coroners would investigate whether a driver’s spectacles or contact lenses were being worn.”

Poor driver eyesight could invalidate insurance policy

In certain circumstances, having an accident where poor eyesight is a factor could invalidate your insurance, fleet insurer RSA Group suggests.

John Sellor, group head of thought leadership at RSA, told Fleet News that if you need to wear glasses or lenses to drive this will be recorded on your driving licence – code 01 on the back of the photocard.

He continued: “If you then have an accident and you aren’t wearing your glasses or lenses, your insurance may be invalid.

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