Thousands of drivers face having their licences ripped up by the DVLA for a rather simple reason.
A new study that examined roadside vision checks showed that certain age groups are likelier to lose their driving privileges.
Those born between 1934 and 1943, aged between 81 and 90, face losing licence revocation at a rate of 10.2%.
This is because they tend to fail eyesight tests, according to a new report by the University of Warwick.
Dr Carol Hawley of Warwick Medical School, who analysed the data, said: ‘While most drivers passed, 96 required eyesight-related advice, and 50 drivers failed outright.
‘Of these, 50% avoided a driving ban only because they had corrective glasses available to pass a second attempt.’
More than one in 10 people behind the wheel are over 70, amounting to 5.6 million people, according to Age UK. Driver’s licenses are not automatically renewed when you reach 70.
Last year, around a quarter of all car drivers killed were over 70. Though road safety experts and age campaigners stress that most older people are safe drivers – driver fatalities are on par with younger age groups.
The report, Is Your Vision Roadworthy?, saw 27 police forces across England and Wales submit data for 3,010 roadside eyesight checks.
Motorists were asked to read a car number plate from 20 metres away.
Dr Hawley added that a third of drivers needed corrective lenses or glasses for driving yet 40% had not had an eye test in two years.
‘Fifty drivers failed the roadside test and alarmingly 50% of those prescribed glasses for driving were not wearing them when stopped,’ she added.
During the tests, 38 drivers had their licences taken away on the spot. Six are pending.
Female drivers were also slightly more likely to fail the number plate test than men, with 1.9% failing compared to 1.5%.
Researchers heard from Terry Cunningham, whose mum and her friend were killed by a motorist with vision so poor he ‘would not have managed to see the steering wheel of his vehicle clearly.’
David Cartwright, optometrist and chair of Eye Health UK, said: ‘Ninety per cent of information needed for driving is visual.
‘Even a minor reduction in vision can slow reaction times and impair your ability to recognise hazards or judge speed. It can also cause fatigue and affect contrast sensitivity – essential for adjusting to glare and driving in low light conditions.
‘Having regular eye tests, every two years or sooner if you notice a change in your vision is essential to keep you and other road users safe.’
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, of the NPCC, added: ‘Personal responsibility is key. Ensuring your vision meets the legal standard is vital for the safety of all road users.’
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