The data, secured through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request,revealed that 2,812 people had a serious fault in their driving test relatingto eyesight between January 2013 and December 2017. At the start of every driving test in the UK, candidates are asked to read out a number plate from 20 metres away, often before they even get in the car. The number has been steadily rising over the last four years, with 508 people failing their driving test for this reason in 2014; in 2017 the total was 17% higher at 599. It’s the easiest part of a driving test, but if you are struggling to read number plates, whether you’re a learner or an experienced driver, it’s important to see an optician as soon as possible and alert the DVLA of any changes.
In the same FOI request, the DVLA also revealed that there has been a 20% increase in drivers alerting the Government organisation to ‘eyesight issues’ over the past 5 years.
Here are our top tips to keep your eyes in top shape for when you’re driving:
- Stay hydrated
- Ensure you get enough sleep
- Take regular breaks
- Always wear any prescription lenses you have
- Have the sun visor down when it’s very bright
- Wear sunglasses on very sunny days. Polarised sunglasses are specially made to reduce both direct and reflective glare.
How many people fail their driving test because of their eyesight?
Year |
Age |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
2013 |
17-20 |
67 |
100 |
167 |
|
21-30 |
101 |
135 |
236 |
|
31-40 |
69 |
66 |
135 |
|
41-50 |
32 |
34 |
66 |
|
51-60 |
13 |
9 |
22 |
|
61+ |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
282 |
344 |
632 |
|
|
|
|
|
2014 |
17-20 |
59 |
82 |
141 |
|
21-30 |
76 |
105 |
181 |
|
31-40 |
53 |
56 |
109 |
|
41-50 |
20 |
31 |
51 |
|
51-60 |
11 |
9 |
20 |
|
61+ |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
219 |
283 |
508 |
|
|
|
|
|
2015 |
17-20 |
46 |
95 |
141 |
|
21-30 |
80 |
124 |
204 |
|
31-40 |
49 |
52 |
101 |
|
41-50 |
24 |
29 |
53 |
|
51-60 |
9 |
12 |
21 |
|
61+ |
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
208 |
312 |
528 |
|
|
|
|
|
2016 |
17-20 |
42 |
83 |
125 |
|
21-30 |
95 |
116 |
211 |
|
31-40 |
64 |
71 |
135 |
|
41-50 |
17 |
30 |
47 |
|
51-60 |
11 |
7 |
18 |
|
61+ |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
229 |
307 |
545 |
|
|
|
|
|
2017 |
17-20 |
85 |
91 |
176 |
|
21-30 |
98 |
126 |
224 |
|
31-40 |
51 |
58 |
109 |
|
41-50 |
27 |
40 |
67 |
|
51-60 |
|
|
13 |
|
61+ |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
261 |
315 |
599 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1199 |
1561 |
2812 |
Year |
Number of notifications | |
2013 |
166,148 | |
2014 |
161,117 | |
2015 |
156,367 | |
2016 |
173,975 | |
2017 |
200,289 | |
Total |
857,896 |
Year |
Group 1 (car/motorcycle) |
Group 2 (lorry/bus) |
||
2013 |
7,373 |
2,035 |
||
2014 |
9,077 |
1,306 |
||
2015 |
9,059 |
1,134 |
||
2016 |
9,094 |
1,298 |
||
2017 |
8,200 |
1,192 |
||
Total |
42,803 |
6,965 |
49,768 |