Road Safety Week – The Importance of Eye Exams

Safety comes first with driving and if your eyesight isn’t up to scratch, you may not be as safe on the roads as you think. During Road Safety Week, we want to highlight the Association of Optometrists’ Don’t Swerve a Sight Test campaign. The name says it all, but what are the facts and figures behind the campaign?

What the Numbers Say

Every year, almost 3,000 road casualties are caused due to poor vision. What’s more, over two-thirds of drivers who need vision correction have been in a car accident in the last 2 years. These accidents could have potentially been avoided if all drivers on the road had adequate eyesight for driving.

Poor vision isn’t just something that affects the elderly; you can experience vision problems at any age. Getting a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to find out if you have adequate eyesight for driving. The NHS recommends adults are tested every 2 years, or more often if your optician identifies a need.

Play by The Rules

If you’re looking to get an eye test and an up-to-date prescription, a visit to our opticians practice in Bristol will definitely help keep you and others safe on the road and on the right side of the law.

In the UK, standard legal vision requirements for driving, with glasses or contact lenses on if needed, state that you must:

1. be able to read a car number plate made after September 1st, 2001 from 20 metres

2. have a visual acuity of at least 6/12 as measured on the Snellen scale – our opticians can explain this in more detail during your eye exam

3. have an adequate field of vision as determined by your optician

With your eyes checked and prescription updated, you can also opt for anti-glare glasses, which reduce distracting glare from headlights or the winter season’s low-lying sun for additional safety whilst on the road.

How Else Can an Eye Test Help?

Our comprehensive eye exams will also check your eye health for conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma, which can all affect your vision and ability to drive safely. Many of these conditions can develop at any age. So if you’re due an eye exam or have noticed vision problems, don’t delay, book your eye test with Juul & Payne Advanced Eyecare, your opticians in Clifton, Bristol.