1. Key messages

The current DVLA and DVA vision standards mean UK drivers do not undergo an objective measure of vision and assessment of eye health. It is therefore difficult to be certain that the UK vision standards improve driving safety or protect the public.

Many motorists are unaware that they have a legal duty to ensure they meet the vision standards whenever they are driving. Research has also shown an association between car collisions that cause injury with visual impairment, especially in drivers over 60.

We believe regular sight tests are critical to reducing the current and future risk of driving accidents.  

We believe that drivers should be required to show evidence of an up-to-date sight test or appropriate vision assessment at the point of applying for a provisional and full driving license and at every renewal.  Any verification process or form completion involving optometrists should be fully funded.

We also strongly encourage all drivers to have regular sight tests between renewals. Clear and sustained public communication on vision standards and the benefits of regular sight tests is needed to reach drivers who don’t currently attend for sight tests. 

2. Background

The UK is one of only eight countries in the EU that do not require standardised vision assessments prior to driving licence application and renewal1. The UK has two government agencies that issue driving licences: the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which covers Great Britain and the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) which covers Northern Ireland. 

Currently, car drivers are asked to read a vehicle number plate at a set distance during the driving test, with no continuing requirement for visual assessments if they are not bus or lorry drivers.  Drivers only need to self-declare they meet the vision standards (see below) for driving at subsequent renewals. Renewal occurs every ten years up to age 70, and at three yearly intervals thereafter. 

Drivers must also self-declare any eye2 or health3 conditions listed by the DVLA or DVA as reportable conditions, and declare if they do not meet the current vision standards4, 5.  From the age of 70 all drivers have to confirm that they are fit to drive as part of license renewal, but they do not have to demonstrate that their vision has been checked and meets the standards.

2.1. DVLA vision standards

  • In Great Britain, drivers must wear glasses or contact lenses every time they drive if they require them to be able to meet the DVLA’s Standards of vision for driving.
  • Drivers must tell DVLA if they have any problem with their eyesight that affects both of their eyes, or the remaining eye if they only have one eye.
  • Drivers must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.
  • Drivers must meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or with one eye if they have sight in one eye only.
  • Drivers must also have an adequate field of vision.

2.2. DVA vision standards

  • Drivers must be able to read a standard size number plate (with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary) from 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters 50mm wide are displayed.
  • Drivers must also make sure that they have an adequate field of vision. The field of vision standard requires a specific width of visual field without significant defects in the sensitive central area. If a driver has total loss of sight in one eye they must not have any defect in the visual field of the remaining eye.

2.3. Clinical guidance

Since the UK driving vision standards were updated in 2013, information has been published to support optometrists who provide advice to patients on their fitness to drive6.

While the obligation is upon drivers to self-declare, both The College of Optometrists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists provide guidance on when it is appropriate for an optometrist or ophthalmologist to directly report drivers to the DVLA/DVA who do not meet the current vision standards for driving7, 8. 

3. Our position

The current DVLA and DVA vision standards mean UK drivers do not undergo an objective measure of vision and assessment of eye health. The number plate test only captures a measure of visual acuity and does not correspond to the required 6/12 visual standard; it may be affected by lighting and environmental conditions; and there is a lack of control over the required distance9, 10, 11. There is no requirement to undertake a test to assess visual field.

It is therefore difficult to be certain that the UK vision standards improve driving safety or protect the public9.  Currently there is no good evidence to indicate which visual tests and cut-off thresholds would be more appropriate for assessing vision for safe driving, and until such evidence is available it is not possible to recommend specific alternative standards6, 10, 11, 12, 13. We believe a better alternative is to require all drivers to show evidence of an up-to-date sight test or appropriate vision assessment at licence application and every subsequent renewal.

Many motorists are unaware that they have a legal duty to ensure they meet the vision standards or assume they meet the vision standards whenever they are driving11, 14, 15, 16, 17.  Research has also shown an association between car collisions that cause injury and visual impairment, especially in road users over 60 year’s old18, 19. Visual blur, glare and reduced contrast sensitivity, particularly in night driving conditions and in the presence of cataract, is known to impact driving performance6, 20, 21; and increases the risk of at-fault and fatal collisions22, 23. 

We can deduce from NHS GOS data that many drivers over 60 are likely not attending regular NHS sight tests24, although activity statistics from private providers indicate some may be having private sight tests25. This means many older drivers may unknowingly not meet the vision standards for driving or may have a reportable eye condition. Several eye conditions do not have many, if any, symptoms in the early stages of disease. If these are detected at an early stage they can be treated and avoidable sight loss prevented. Where significant uncorrected refractive error is detected following a sight test, glasses and/or contact lenses may be recommended to overcome visual blur and/or glare. It is important to emphasise that treatment of eye conditions and/or intervention with visual correction can enable and provide motorists with reassurance that they meet the vision standards and continue driving. 

We do not yet have the evidence to fully attribute injury collisions or car accidents to issues related to vision and eye health alone11. However, drivers’ vision and eye health will change over the course of their lifetimes and may be very different at age 60 compared to when they passed their test. It is fair to assume that those who have regular sight tests and/or vision assessments may be less likely to be involved in a collision caused by visual problems. This is because regular sight tests reduce the potential for avoidable sight loss, and ensure good vision through appropriate visual correction. We therefore believe regular sight tests are critical to reducing the current and future risk of driving accidents.  

This belief echoes the views of optometrists and dispensing opticians, who do not think the current system adequately protects the public and could be enhanced by compulsory vision tests for all drivers at regular intervals and relying less on drivers’ self-reporting9, 23. Studies show that drivers also support regular, compulsory assessment of vision9.

While we need more evidence on appropriate specific visual standards for driving, we believe that drivers should be required to show evidence of an up-to-date sight test or appropriate vision assessment at the point of applying for a provisional and full driving license and at every renewal. This will allow more objective and standardised determination of visual status compared to the current visual standards alone. In addition, regular sight tests will detect both significant refractive error that needs correcting and any eye conditions that may be treated in order to meet the current vision standards for driving. Where a mechanism to verify the evidence is required, optometrists are ideally placed to perform this role, including completion or signing of any forms. These activities should be appropriately funded by the relevant authority to cover time and administrative tasks.   

We also strongly encourage all drivers to have regular sight tests, as recommended by their optometrist. Optometrists are ideally placed to encourage patients to continue having regular sight tests and to explain the vision standards requirements for drivers. Clear and sustained public communication on vision standards and the benefits of regular sight tests is also needed to reach drivers who don’t currently attend for sight tests. 

1. European Council of Optometry and Optics (2017). Visual standards for driving in Europe - a consensus paper

2. Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, Eye conditions and driving

3. Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, Medical conditions, disability and driving

4. Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driving eyesight rules 

5. Driver & Vehicle Agency, A guide to visual standards for drivers

6. Latham, K. & Rae, S. (2015). Visual acuity standards for driving. Optometry in Practice, 16(4). 123-130

7. The College of Optometrists. Guidance for Professional Practice, Disclosing information about adults without their consent

8. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Visual standards for driving

9. Taylor, S.P. (2021). Road safety and drivers attitudes to the UK number plate test and regular validation. Optometry in Practice, 22(1).

10. Owsley, C., & McGwin Jr, G. (2010). Vision and driving. Vision Research, 50(23), 2348-2361.

11. Wood, J., Hughes, A., Fylan, F., & Elliot, D.B. (2019). We need to talk about driving. Optometry in Practice, 20(2).

12. Swain, T. A., McGwin Jr, G., & Owsley, C. (2022). Visual functions associated with on‐road performance by older drivers evaluated by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. Ophthalmic and physiological optics, 42(4), 879-886.

13. Owsley, C., Wood, J. M., & McGwin Jr, G. (2015). A roadmap for interpreting the literature on vision and driving. Survey of ophthalmology, 60(3), 250-262.

14. Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (2021). Under 50% of motorists aware they must read a number plate from 20 metres, figures show.

15.Fylan, F., Hughes, A., Wood, J. M., & Elliott, D. B. (2018). Why do people drive when they can’t see clearly?. Transportation Research part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 56, 123-133.

16. The College of Optometrists (2021). Almost half of Brits unaware they could be fined for driving without prescribed glasses.

17. Roberts, C., Hawley, C.A., Ursachi, G., Fosdick, T. (2020). Vision and health as factors contributing to injury collisions in Great Britain: comparisons between older and younger drivers. Optometry in Practice, 21(1).

18. DfT Research (2022)

19. Gruber, N., Mosimann, U. P., Müri, R. M., & Nef, T. (2013). Vision and night driving abilities of elderly drivers. Traffic Injury Prevention, 14(5), 477-485.

20. Wood, J. M., Collins, M. J., Chaparro, A., Marszalek, R., Carberry, T., Lacherez, P., & Chu, B. S. (2014). Differential effects of refractive blur on day and nighttime driving performance. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 55(4), 2284-2289.

21. Owsley, C., Stalvey, B. T., Wells, J., Sloane, M. E., & McGwin, G. (2001). Visual risk factors for crash involvement in older drivers with cataract. Archives of Ophthalmology, 119(6), 881-887.

22. Wood, J. M. (2020). Nighttime driving: visual, lighting and visibility challenges. Ophthalmic and physiological optics, 40(2), 187-201.

23. General Optical Council (2017). Vision and driving report.

24. NHS Business Services Authority. General Ophthalmic Services, General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) activity data

25. Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (2022). The future of primary care – principles and priorities

Policy position written: December 2023
Next review: December 2025