If you get into an accident and it turns out that you didn't keep your car in good shape, like by letting the tyres get too worn, and that was a factor, your insurance company will probably not pay out. And the police might be interested as well! Many of you will say that it makes sense. But what if you're not fit for the road?
How often do drivers say, "I didn't see the other car" when they get into an accident? And what if the problem was that you...
If you get into an accident and it turns out that you didn't keep your car in good shape, like by letting the tyres get too worn, and that was a factor, your insurance company will probably not pay out. And the police might be interested as well! Many of you will say that it makes sense. But what if you're not fit for the road?
How often do drivers say, "I didn't see the other car" when they get into an accident? And what if the problem was that you couldn't see? Has it gotten so bad that it's dangerous?
Well, if we have trouble seeing, we all know it, but there are opticians on every high street who can help. Remember that you have to wear contact lenses or glasses to drive, and if your eyesight gets worse, you should get a new prescription. All drivers are required by law to make sure that they are safe to drive.
Just last week, I pulled up next to an older driver who was obviously having trouble reading the signs for the next intersection. He was leaning forward to read the signs that said "Leeds" while rolling forward at 10 mph. This was at a set of traffic lights that had already turned red, so it was clear he hadn't seen them. He was lucky that the cars coming from the right side of the road saw him before they hit him. I'm not sure he even saw them!
The law is pretty clear. It says that anyone with a driver's licence who can't see well enough to meet the minimum standards must not drive. They also have to give up their driver's licence.
The driver's licence test says that you must be able to read a legal number plate from 20 metres away. A legal number plate has letters and numbers that are 50 mm wide and 79 mm high. But you can use your driving glasses.
Even so, the law doesn't require you to get your eyes checked regularly. However, you do have to tell the DVLA if you get sick and it affects your ability to drive. If you don't tell them, you could be breaking the law.
Some states in the US make drivers take an eye test every five years, but this is not the case in the UK. Here, drivers who are 70 years old or older must fill out a medical form every three years to prove that they are healthy enough to drive, and "healthy" includes having good eyesight. If these drivers don't send in their medical form, they lose their licence. (I wonder what that old man at the intersection said on his?)
On the insurance front, if you get into an accident and your bad eyesight was a factor, your insurance company could say you were at fault and refuse to pay out. This could be because you needed glasses to drive but weren't wearing them at the time.
So, older men in Leeds, please pay attention to how you drive and keep your eyes open.
