Drivers face new 'check' at roadside and instant £1,000 fine for failing it

Drivers face new 'check' at roadside and instant £1,000 fine for failing it
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Older drivers risk £1,000 fine for a common roadside safety check. Bristol Street Motorists warned drivers must regularly check is their eyesight, with those who fail could face fines in a crackdown as fears grow for older motorists.

They explained: "The driving standards in the UK dictate that all drivers should be able to read a licence plate from 20 metres away. Yet, some people regularly leave their glasses at home or avoid updating their prescriptions.

"Not only is this decision incredibly dangerous, but it could cost you three points on your licence and a fine of up to £1,000 if it is found that your vision has impacted a crash." You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects both of your eyes, or the remaining eye if you only have one eye.

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This does not include being short or long sighted or colour blind. You also do not need to say if you’ve had surgery to correct short sightedness and can meet the eyesight standards. Bristol Street Motors added: "Even if your eyesight is perfect, your eyes can still be diverted from the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

"Putting your phone outside of your vision is the best way to deter yourself from becoming distracted. This can also save you from a £200 fine and 6 points on your licence if you are caught looking at your phone."

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You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres. You must also 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, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.