Eyes On The Road

2.7m motorists would fail their driving test if taken now due to poor eyesight(1)

– Friday 28 October 2011: New research out today reveals that one in twelve motorists (eight per cent) are not able to read a license plate from 20 metres, which would result in them automatically failing their driving test if taken again(2).

The new study by esure car insurance found that almost half of motorists (45 per cent) admitted their eyesight had deteriorated since they first took their test. This comes in the week when a freedom of information request revealed that 4,009 drivers were banned from the roads in 2009 due to failing eyesight, more than double that of 2006 (1,597)(3).

Just 43 per cent of motorists polled revealed they were confident they would pass the eyesight section of the driving test again with 42 per cent admitting to slowing down and squinting to read road signs. More than a quarter of those polled (28 per cent) even admit to asking passengers to read the road signs for them.

It seems Brits favour vanity over safety when it comes to driving - with nearly a quarter of motorists polled (24 per cent) having driven without their glasses despite being prescribed them. 12 per cent of Brits admit to driving without their specs on a regular basis with one in ten (nine per cent) replacing their prescription glasses with non-prescriptive sunglasses to drive.

If motorists have concerns about their eyesight then they are required by law to immediately book an eye test, but 17 per cent of motorists questioned said they would not and 45 per cent said they would continue driving. The research revealed that the average motorist waits three years to have an eye exam, while one in ten motorists (10 per cent) confessed that they had not had an eye exam in the last ten years.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure car insurance, said: “While the number of motorists banned from driving due to poor eyesight is increasing, it’s shocking to see how many motorists have concerns about not having twenty-twenty vision but are still happy to drive.

“We urge all motorists to have their eyes examined regularly and to make sure they always wear there glasses if required whilst driving. Failing to do so could land you them a hefty fine and poses a danger to both themselves and other road users.”

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esure’s press contacts: For further information please contact the esure press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 999 or email esure@mischiefpr.com. An ISDN line is available for radio interviews. A case study is available on request.

Notes to Editors:
(1)2,681,768 is an estimation based on 8 per cent of the total UK motoring population based on DfT Transport Statistics – 33,522,106 motor vehicles currently licensed 2006. This is a projected figure based on the 1,001 motorists surveyed.
(2)esure used the independent online research company FlyResearch who surveyed 1,025 motorists from across the UK between 25 and 26 October 2011. FlyResearch is an online market research company. Its researches are members of the MRS, PRCA, BPC and Esomar, and abide by their guidelines. Further information is available at www.FlyResearch.com.
(3)http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g-hJRl5Gsp0jkRCi8it5E7vYSq1w?docId=N0224091319335458224A