British motorists might be unaware of a crucial change affecting road safety, but it's essential knowledge for all drivers.
The majority of drivers understand the importance of being able to clearly see the road and fellow road users while operating a vehicle. In good daylight, drivers must be capable of reading a vehicle registration plate from 20 metres away (or 20.5 metres for older-style number plates).
For those wishing to conduct their own registration plate test, while walking along a street or through a car park, 20 metres is approximately five car lengths.
Drivers must also have sufficient peripheral vision and visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale (with corrective lenses if required), using both eyes simultaneously or, if applicable, one eye only for those with sight in one eye.
Should you need glasses or contact lenses for driving, these must be worn continuously whilst operating a vehicle (as per Rule 92 of the Highway Code). Failing to comply constitutes an offence and could potentially void your motor insurance policy.
Keeping a backup pair of glasses in your vehicle's glove box is advisable, according to Olderdrivers.org.uk
The most reliable way of making sure you meet the minimum eyesight requirements for driving is having regular eye tests at an optician's every two years, or more frequently if professionally recommended.
Free eye tests are available to those aged 60 and above, peoplediagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, or those identified by an ophthalmologist as being at risk of developing glaucoma.
If you're aged 40 or above, and have an immediate family member,including a parent, sibling or child, who has received a glaucoma diagnosis, you're eligible for free NHS eye examinations.
Free sight tests are additionally available to those claiming certain benefits.
Vision can decline slowly and progressively, making it challenging to detect when it has dropped beneath required standards.
For example, advancing age reduces our eyes' ability to adjust swiftly to lighting changes, and we begin experiencing difficulties distinguishing colours and contrasts in dim conditions.
From 15 to 65 years of age, the recovery time following glare exposure rises from 2 to 9 seconds - a seven-second increase. This may explain why some people struggle with night-time driving.
