Hundreds of young motorists stopped from getting behind the wheel every year due to poor eyesight
Figures show that nearly 500 under-25s had their licences refused or revoked due to eye-related conditions
HUNDREDS of young drivers are stopped from getting behind the wheel every year because of failing eyesight.
Licences were refused or revoked from nearly 500 under-25s last year for eye-related conditions.
Motorists are prevented from driving if they can’t read a number plate from 20 metres away.
Figures from the DVLA show 7,000 people across all age groups were, in effect, banned from driving last year because of defective eyes.
Nearly 800 of those who were stopped from going on the road were in their 90s.
More than 35,000 wannabe drivers have been stopped from driving a car or motorbike since 2013 owing to failing sight.
Three police forces are now testing the eyesight of every motorist who they stop.
Officers in Thames Valley, west Mindlands and Hampshire can take away the licence if they feel the driver is a danger to other motorists.
This power was introduced in 2013 under Cassie’s Law named after Cassie McCord, 16, who died when an 87-year-old lost control of his car in Colchester, Essex.
He had failed an eye test just days before but carried on driving through a loophole.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “While there is no mandatory eye test requirement, drivers are informed they have to meet the minimum eyesight requirement.
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“These figures imply a surprisingly large number of people then discover their eyesight is not good enough for driving even with the appropriate glasses.
“It is even more worrying that many probably should not have been driving some time before this, something they would have found out had they had their eyes tested earlier.”
The DVLA said drivers can carry out their own roadside test by reading a number plate from five cars away to check their eyesight.
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