Dozens of drivers have been prosecuted for breaking a major safety rule across the UK which carries a hefty £1,000 penalty to help deter the action.
Fines have been handed out to motorists for breaking the 1937 Road Traffic Act which requires Britons to have good eyesight while travelling on UK roads.
According to a Freedom of Information request, 50 licence endorsements for “driving with uncorrected eyesight” were handed out between 2021 and October 2024.
An additional two drivers were also issued endorsements for refusing to undergo an eyesight test during the time period.
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Police conducted roadside eyesight testing in November last year
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The eyesight test conducted by the police involves drivers being able to read a vehicle number plate clearly from 20 metresaway.
Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing said: “We’ve uncovered a relatively small number of licence endorsements but they still illustrate how police are actively pursuing motorists who are driving with poor vision.
“While the majority of prosecutions are for motorists in their 70s, there’s a concerning spread of licence endorsements across all age ranges – from those in their early 20s to one motorist aged 91 at the time of the offence.
“What this tells us is that all drivers, no matter how young or old they might be, need to take their eyesight seriously. After all, driving with impaired vision poses an obvious risk for all road users.”
In November last year, the National Police Chiefs’ Council launched an operation to crack down on drivers with poor vision by conducting roadside vision tests.
The FOI looked specifically at motorists who were given an “MS70” endorsement for driving with uncorrected sight which also comes with three penalty points. Endorsements stay on a driver’s license for eight four or 11 years, depending on the offence.
Drivers who are issued with the MS70 endorsement risk facing further complications when trying to obtain car insurance.
An MS70 endorsement on a licence means drivers may be rejected by insurance companies and have to use a specialist broker, which hikes costs even further.
The FOI found that 14 offences were recorded in 2023, with four recorded in 2024. Under UK law, drivers must wear glasses or contact lenses every time they get behind the wheel to meet the minimum standards.
Motorists must also notify the DVLA of any health issues which affect their vision, although this does not include being short or long-sighted, or colour blind.
According to the RAC: “If a driver fails to successfully read a licence plate from 20-metres away, and is deemed to be unsafe to drive their licence can be revoked immediately.
“Currently the motorist will receive no points on their licence but will instead have to go through the process of applying for a new one. Once a licence is revoked, the DVLA has a disqualification period in which time the driver will not be able to re-apply for a new licence.”
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But the RAC did note that it is unclear how long a licence could be revoked for with anyone who fails the roadside test being urged to submit sufficient evidence that their eyesight has improved as quickly as possible in order for them to return to the wheel before they will be granted a new license.
“Once satisfied, the DVLA may also require the driver to take an additional test to prove their vision is roadworthy before being distributing a new driving licence,” the insurer added.
