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Fail eye test - lose licence?

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hors limite

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Police are beginning a trial where random eye tests will be carried out and if you fail your licence is revoked immediately. I am not for a moment saying that the people who fail should be allowed to carry on driving but to me this does seem a bit draconian. Why not suspend the licence requiring the individual to return to a police station for a retest within a month. This would give the individual time to consult an ophthalmologist/optician and to see if his sight can be restored to a safe standard. I hope that there is someone on the forum who has some expertise in this area. I suppose I am thinking about the man or woman of a certain age who has suffered a gradual deterioration and might not have realised the extent of their sight loss. At the same time, I have a sense that the normally law abiding citizen is to be treated more harshly than someone who behaves recklessly when driving.
 
I disagree, as for your last senrance, they will be fully aware that their eyesight is poor and that they cannot read signs etc, thus putting themselves and everyone else on the road at risk, which is selfish, dangerous and reckless in its own right.

Whilst I accept that drivers are an easy target at times, this, for someone who spends thousands of miles a week on the road is excellent because you have people who have been to the doctors, failed eye tests, been advised not to drive but carry on, because there is no link between the confidentiality of the doctors and the DVLA, which in certain circumstances I think their should be.

This gets my support if it makes our roads safer.
 
In all honesty, if you can't read a number plate at 20 metres then you're unable to see road signs, pedestrians, cyclists, bends, junctions or anything else.
20 metres really isn't a long way and if your eyesight is that poor then you shouldn't be on the road because you're a danger.
It's the responsibility of every driver to ensure their health, including eyesight, makes them safe to be on the road.
If you don't then it's your own fault.
 
Yeah I can't really see how this is bad. It'll take seconds to administer during any 'stop' and has very little. if any. cost implications

If you cant read signs etc then typically you know it but have chosen to do nothing, if you don't know you cant read signs etc then there's a bigger issue that should probably be keeping you off the road anyway
 
Lets break this issue down into its constituent parts.

1) If you can't read a number plate at what equates to the distance between the sets of stumps on a cricket pitch you don't pass your driving test.

2) Why should you be allowed to retain your licence if you drive but can't pass the sight test for driving?

3) Should your licence be revoked permanently, after all you know when your eyesight has deteriorated to the extent that you can't read road signs?

On point 2; it would be ridiculous to allow someone to continue to drive if they fail the eye test. On point 3; being foolish, and ignoring your eyesight deterioration, shouldn't bar you from driving providing you can subsequently pass the eye test. You could even say that anyone who has lost their licence and regained it following an eye test should submit proof annually.
 
Think it’s a good idea, and don’t understand anyone who thinks that driving what effectively is blind,when you consider the speeds you travel at, should be allowed.
However apart from a very few publicity catches I don’t see anyone being caught as there aren’t the Police to patrol and do the random tests, let alone catch the hand held phone users, unroadworthy car drivers etc etc.
 
Bunkermagnet said:
Think it’s a good idea, and don’t understand anyone who thinks that driving what effectively is blind,when you consider the speeds you travel at, should be allowed.
However apart from a very few publicity catches I don’t see anyone being caught as there aren’t the Police to patrol and do the random tests, let alone catch the hand held phone users, unroadworthy car drivers etc etc.
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They'll do targeted sessions over the course of a month or so. Much the same as they do with speed traps. Set up in a different part of town each morning and afternoon for a week then move onto another.
Stop every 5th car or something like that.
Those that don't get caught - might be the kick up the button that they need to sort it.
 
People get so defensive when it comes to driving and punishment. Rightly so sometimes because we drivers are seen as a cash cow and having our licence taken away would in many cases ruin peoples life's (unable to get to work and golf) basically it doesnt bear thinking about

however this actually makes the roads safer. I wear glasses for everything and make sure I get my eyes tested every 2 years. My licence is just to important to me
 
To lose your licence on the spot sounds harsh until you look at the damage you can do.
It’s open to individual officers opinions. So needs some thought to better testing.
You don’t lose your licence for DD until you go to court!
For me anything that makes it safer is fine.
Usually you find this sort of thing out AFTER a accident so have it as part of a insurance/tax/roadworthy roadside random test .
As they say nothing to hide nothing to fear.
But it will probably infringe someone’s human rights and not get off the ground.
 
I don't know which post all of the above are replying to - it certainly wasn't mine. I stated quite clearly that if they can't pass the test they shouldn't be driving. If you take the trouble to read my post properly, my suggestion was for a temporary suspension of the licence giving the individual time to see if the problem can be sorted out.
If reading comprehension was part of the driving test some people would still be riding bicycles.
 
I tend to agree with the original post. Suspend the license immediately, re-take in a months time if that is what is needed to adjust glasses etc. If they fail gain then sorry, it's gone.

A car is a lethal weapon. People seem to feel they have a right to drive for ever more, no matter the danger to other people. If you can't see clearly then you should not be out on the road.
 
hors limite said:
I don't know which post all of the above are replying to - it certainly wasn't mine. I stated quite clearly that if they can't pass the test they shouldn't be driving. If you take the trouble to read my post properly, my suggestion was for a temporary suspension of the licence giving the individual time to see if the problem can be sorted out.
If reading comprehension was part of the driving test some people would still be riding bicycles.
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Your first sentence said “if they fail their licence would be revoked”
I think this is what we were replying to, the rest is just your opinion .
 
Fairly certain this could be 'policed' without actually involving 'stop 'n search'...

After all, a zombie knife is a lethal weapon in 'wrong hands' yet we seem to be against stop and search for those...
As it infringes on 'our rights' to go about our 'normal business'...
 
MegaSteve said:
Fairly certain this could be 'policed' without actually involving 'stop 'n search'...

After all, a zombie knife is a lethal weapon in 'wrong hands' yet we seem to be against stop and search for those...
As it infringes on 'our rights' to go about our 'normal business'...
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HOW they have to be driving in the first place.


I know a guy who needs glasses but won’t wear them because he is vain.
Imo if your eyesight is not up to standard or uncorrected then you should not be driving.
Can you imagine telling a family their son /daughter won’t be coming home because the driver was waiting for an opticians appointment to decide if he was fit to drive or not, a couple of days after the police had pulled him/her.
 
MegaSteve said:
You have to have an MOT for your vehicle...
Why not one for your eyesight?
As has already been pointed out many of us can already get a free test just log the results into a database...
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Lots of FAKE mot certificates !
If your in the car driving you are caught red eyed as it were, all this self certification is open to abuse to much.
 
clubchamp98 said:
Lots of FAKE mot certificates !
If your in the car driving you are caught red eyed as it were, all this self certification is open to abuse to much.
Click to expand...


When my lad got knocked off his cycle recently[ish] plod didn't have anyone available to attend the scene...
Wasn't prioritised as he was 'only walking wounded' and there wasn't a debate of who was at fault...
So, how are they going to find time to do arbitrary checks?
 
Imurg said:
They'll do targeted sessions over the course of a month or so. Much the same as they do with speed traps. Set up in a different part of town each morning and afternoon for a week then move onto another.
Stop every 5th car or something like that.
Those that don't get caught - might be the kick up the button that they need to sort it.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree with that and I’m all for it, but a patrol car would see someone driving unduly slowly and stop the driver and test their eyesight. Sadly though the police numbers are diminished where it’s needed most, especially with those targeted locations that tie up officers and some cars.
 
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