Eye Exams Important Part of Safe Driving
Have you been to your eye doctor lately? Research conducted in the UK by Specsavers Opticians, an optical group that hosts booths offering eye exams at many car shows, showed that one in four British drivers falls below the recommended eyesight standard for safe driving.
In addition, Specscavers' survey also showed that another one in four drivers had never had an eye exam, and 60% of those surveyed said they would have regular eye exams if it helped lower the cost of auto insurance.
Here in the United States, basic eye exams are required when applying for a license for the first time, but since many states offer renewals by mail, they are not required for many years after the initial exam, even for those drivers who require glasses or contact lenses in order to drive.
The Specsavers tour of the UK was part of the optical group's annual "Drive Safe" campaign, which also offered hearing tests in addition to vision exams. Their mission is to increase awareness of the need to have regular exams, and to make sure those people who should be wearing corrective lenses while driving actually do.
Their survey showed that 30% of the men surveyed didn't meet the minimum eyesight requirements, nor did 20% of the women who were screened. Additional research of professional drivers also showed that 83% of employers in the UK do not require vision screening when clearing employees to operate company vehicles.
