Drivers who wear glasses may find themselves caught out on a little-known law that could lead to a hefty fine.
Both long and short sighted motorists could find themselves fined for not wearing their glasses when driving. These fines could be as high as £1,000 and drivers may also face three penalty points.
If you have a glasses prescription and it is found that you weren't wearing your glasses when an accident occurred, it may be deemed your fault. Because of this - even if you don't always wear your glasses - so long as your prescription deems that they are required for driving, you must always wear them while behind the wheel.
You also need to let the DVLA if your prescription changes should you may no longer meet the requirements to drive without them, reports the Echo.
DVLA Guidance states that drivers "must wear glasses or contact lenses every time they drive if they need them to meet the 'standards of vision for driving'".
You must also 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.
You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after September 1, 2001, from 20 metres. You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.
At the start of your practical driving test you have to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle. If you cannot, you’ll fail your driving test and the test will not continue. DVLA will be told and your licence will be revoked.
When you reapply for your driving licence, DVLA will ask you to have an eyesight test with DVSA.
This will be at a driving test centre. If you’re successful, you’ll still have to pass the DVSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.
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