South Wales Police are warning that drivers who fail a roadside eyesight test could have their licence instantly revoked. Officers say they want to raise awareness of the dangers of driving with poor vision.
South Wales Police are warning that drivers who fail a roadside eyesight test could have their licence revoked instantly.
Police are stopping motorists and asking them to read the registration plate of a vehicle parked 20.5 metres away - the legal standard set by the DVLA.
Previously, drivers who failed an eyesight test were free to return to their vehicles and drive away until a slow postal-based licence revocation process was complete.
But improved technology means a licence removal notice can now potentially be issued within minutes, making it an offence for that driver to get straight back behind the wheel.
This was posted a week or so ago, I didn’t comment then but I will now. Of all the road safety initiatives launched by the police over the years I reckon this one is absolutely spot on and imo way overdue. I’ve said for years that the most dangerous day of the year to drive on is the Monday in October when the clocks have just gone back. It’s terrifying to watch the poor lambs hug the verge and brake every time an oncoming vehicle passes. The scary part is that they are well aware that their eyesight is failing, but for whatever reason (maybe vanity) they refuse the simple fix of eye test and glasses.
If they can revoke it instantly perhaps they could do the same with drink drivers who fail the breath test and by that I mean ALL DRIVERS not just HGV ones ?
on my medical last year during the eye test part my doctor told me my eyes were good enough without glasses even though I wear them all the time. He said that it is noted and that vosa will know if you should wear glasses or not if you get pulled.
there is a section on your licence card called information codes…if you have 01 in that section it tells them that you need eyesight correction. gov.uk/driving-licence-codes
xamtex:
there is a section on your licence card called information codes…if you have 01 in that section it tells them that you need eyesight correction. gov.uk/driving-licence-codes
its the same as a car driver pulling a trailer without the +E entitlement. it is an offence but its a fixed penalty and endorsement, not an instant ban. they can prevent you from driving any further but they cant take your licence away for not wearing your specs
This would be illegal.
I know that the majority of police officers think they are something special, But i don’t think they could convince me that they are Doctors, Opticians, Judges, and police officers roled into one.
its the same as a car driver pulling a trailer without the +E entitlement. it is an offence but its a fixed penalty and endorsement, not an instant ban. they can prevent you from driving any further but they cant take your licence away for not wearing your specs
Yes - revocation of licence within a matter of minutes at the roadside if the police think your eyesight is so bad as to be a danger to other road users. In such cases, between the hours of 8am and 9pm on working days, DVLA will deal with the revocation straight away and return the relevant notice to the police at the roadside by email. They will then print out a paper notice, serve it on the driver there and then and take his licence off him (assuming he has it with him). If he continues to drive, they can then use existing powers to seize his vehicle.
sounds good to me , next time some pillock pulls out of a junction and causes a panic stop or a accident , and then gives you the old " didn’t see you there " excuse , call the plod and get them off the road . i wish i had a pound for every time i’ve heard that said .
Sadly there is a world of difference between being unable to see to the required standard and simply not bothering to look properly in the first place. The vast majority of SMIDSYs fall into the latter category…
ISTR recent change in legislation or rules allowing police to tug licences now for certain offenses.
But most truckers do have good enough eyesight don’t you. It’s not like you’ve dropped it on the wrong bay or taken the wrong trailer and not noticed for a few hundred miles is it
