Hampshire police crackdown: These are the driving rules for eyesight you need to know about

A SEPTEMBER crackdown by Hampshire police means any driver who fails a roadside sight test will have their licence revoked on the spot.Â
The M27The M27
The M27

Drivers who are unable to read a licence plate from 20m away are at risk of being taken off the road as part of the initiative '“ which is also being launched by Thames Valley and West Midlands police. 

To make sure you are compliant, you should revise the current road rules on eyesight below. 

 

The M27The M27
The M27

Government driving eyesight rules

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- You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after September 1, 2001 from 20m away 

- You must meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual '˜acuity' (sharpness) of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale using both eyes together or in one eye, if you only have sight in one

- You must have an adequate field of vision '“ which is the entire area you can see when looking straight ahead. Your optician can tell you about this and do a test, but you must be able to see without there being significant problems in this area

Cassie's Law

Under this procedure, police have the power to fast-track notification to the DVLA if they find someone who cannot read a plate from 20m in daylight conditions. Within an hour, offenders will have their licence revoked within an hour '“ and face prosecution. 

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- Cassie's Law requires the police's eyesight test must be conducted in good daylight with glasses or corrective lenses if required. However, if the individual was not wearing glasses or lenses at the time of the incident '“ even if they are normally needed '“ then the test should be carried out without the glasses or corrective lenses