Latest news with #driversafety
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Quarter of drivers don't bother getting eyes checked
Almost a quarter of motorists have not had an eyesight test in the past two years, a survey suggests. The poll, commissioned by the insurer Churchill, revealed that 24 per cent of motorists had not had their vision checked by a professional optometrist within that period. Drivers must be able to read a number plate 20 metres away as part of the driving test, but that is the only time they are required to prove their sight is good enough for them to drive. It comes amid growing public concern that some drivers, especially older ones, have eyesight quality that is below the legal minimum. A senior coroner earlier this year said that ' self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie', while Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, has said she was 'open to considering' mandatory eye tests. Nicholas Mantel, the head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: 'It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. 'What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough – or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses. 'Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.' Churchill's survey, carried out by Opinium, polled 2,000 adults, of whom just over 1,300 were drivers. Some 12 per cent of surveyed drivers admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were unsure if it was. About 83 per cent of UK adults would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade, Churchill's poll revealed. That figure rose to 88 per cent for those who would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reached the age of 70. The law says a licence holder must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive, which includes if their eyesight has deteriorated beyond the legal minimum. Ms Alexander received a prevention of future deaths report from the senior coroner for Lancashire in April after four pensioners were killed by drivers with failing eyesight. 'The motorists had ignored the advice of opticians that their sight had deteriorated to a level at which they should no longer be behind the wheel,' said Dr James Adeley. Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that, in 2023, 240 people were injured and seven killed in crashes in which defective eyesight was a factor. That was the most casualties since 2017, when the total was 262. A DfT spokesman said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. 'The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Almost quarter of drivers have not had eye test in past two years
Nearly one in four drivers (24%) have not had an eye test in the past two years, a new survey suggests. The poll, commissioned by insurer Churchill, comes amid growing concern over the lack of checks on drivers once they pass their test. Drivers in the UK must read a number plate 20 metres away as part of their driving test, but that is the only time they are required to prove their sight is good enough to drive. The NHS recommends people have their eyes tested every two years. Motorists are required to self-declare if they have a medical condition that could affect their ability to drive. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander received a prevention of future deaths report from HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley in April, which related to the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight. The motorists had ignored the advice of opticians that their sight had deteriorated to a level where they should no longer drive. The Churchill survey suggested that 83% of UK adults would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade. The figure rises to 88% for those who would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reach 70 years old. Some 12% of drivers surveyed admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were not sure it was. Department of Transport (DfT) figures show 240 people were injured and seven were killed in crashes on Britain's roads in 2023 in which defective eyesight was a factor. That was the most casualties since 2017, when the total was 262. Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: 'It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. 'What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough – or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses. 'Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.' Ms Alexander recently told the Commons Transport Select Committee she is 'open to considering' requiring older motorists to pass eye tests to keep their driving licence. This could be part of the Government's upcoming road safety strategy. A DfT spokesman said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. 'The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. 'We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.' – The survey was conducted by research company Opinium between May 20-23 among 2,000 UK adults, of whom 1,312 were drivers.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- CTV News
Driver stopped going 143 km/hr on Highway 3: OPP
Essex County OPP say a driver has been charged after going 63 kilometres per hour over the speed limit on Highway 3 in Essex. (Source: OPP)
CBC
18-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Flurries expected on high-elevation B.C. highways Saturday overnight
Drivers planning to travel through mountain passes in B.C.'s Interior this long weekend are being warned to prepare for flurries and challenging road conditions. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Saturday afternoon, advising of snowfall at higher elevations along several key highway routes. This includes the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, and Merritt to Kamloops; Highway 3 between Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass; the Okanagan Connector between Merritt and Kelowna; and Highway 3 near Princeton through the Allison Pass. "An upper disturbance passing through the B.C. interior is expected to drop the snow levels overnight tonight to around 1,500 metres," the special weather statement reads. Snowfall amounts are expected to be minimal, between a trace up to five centimetres, and rising temperatures on Sunday are expected to melt much of it. The federal forecaster is urging drivers to use caution and be prepared for sudden changes in road and weather conditions at higher elevations. "Slow down and maintain a safe following distance," the agency said in its alert. "Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions." Environment Canada encourages travellers to check road conditions through DriveBC, and monitor forecasts and alerts. The weather statement is in effect until Sunday morning.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Lethbridge first responders offer tips on what to do in the event of a minor vehicle collision
First responders in Lethbridge are reminding drivers what to do if they get into a minor vehicle collision.
