In the last five years police forces have told the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that when tested, 1,486 drivers have been unable to read a number plate from 20 metres.
As a result of these referrals, 1,436 motorists had their licenses revoked.
The figures were revealed by the DVLA following a Freedom of Information request by leading automotive outfit Select Car Leasing.
Select Car Leasing’s Managing Director, Graham Conway, said:
“Eyesight is clearly an important part of being able to drive and it needs to be taken seriously. At the start of each practical driving test every learner needs to be able to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle. After that, it’s the responsibility of each driver to have regular eye tests and inform the DVLA of problems. Problems with eyesight can not only put you at risk but also put other motorists, passengers and pedestrians in danger.”
Drivers are required to tell the DVLA of any problem with their sight that affects both eyes, or the remaining eye if they only have one.
The government agency says that to reach the “standards of vision for driving”, motorists in charge of a car or motorcycle must be able to read a car number plate made after September 1 2001 from 20 metres.
Drivers must wear glasses or contact lenses every time they drive if they need them to meet this standard, the motoring body warns.
The rules state:
“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.”
The Snellen scale is usually a number of rows of letters which gets smaller as you go down the chart.
Lorry and bus drivers must have a higher standard of eyesight than those driving cars and motorcycles.
A total of 38,090 car and motorcycle drivers have had their licenses refused or revoked in the last five years for failing to meet the minimum standards for driving.
Meanwhile, 3,253 lorry and bus drivers have had their licenses refused or revoked for the same reason.
Number of D751E referrals received by the DVLA from police forces:
| 2016 | 320 |
| 2017 | 291 |
| 2018 | 325 |
| 2019 | 309 |
| 2020 | 241 |
Number of licences revoked following D751E referrals:
| 2016 | 317 |
| 2017 | 273 |
| 2018 | 316 |
| 2019 | 297 |
| 2020 | 233 |
Number of group one drivers (cars/motorcycles) who have had their licences revoked or refused due to not meeting the minimum vision standards for driving:
| 2016 | 8875 |
| 2017 | 7982 |
| 2018 | 8081 |
| 2019 | 8602 |
| 2020 | 4550 |
Number of group two drivers (lorries/buses) who have had their licences revoked or refused due to not meeting the minimum vision standards for driving:
| 2016 | 652 |
| 2017 | 672 |
| 2018 | 807 |
| 2019 | 721 |
| 2020 | 401 |
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