Company drivers 'should have regular eye tests'

Date: 10/5/2011

Fleets need to do all that they can to ensure that their company drivers are undergoing regular eye tests.

According to the Fleet Safety Forum, a division of the charity Brake, medical professionals advise that an individual should have their sight examined at least every two years - or more if they feel there is a cause for concern.

In light of this, it has launched an e-guidance campaign pack and poster that highlights the importance of having good eyesight that is able to recognise hazards on the roads.

The Look Sharp scheme has been sponsored by Boots Opticians and offers recommendations on what action can be taken to help prevent sight from failing.

It is estimated that each year in the UK, 12.5 million individuals do not have a test despite being due for one, while one in six drivers are believed to be unable to see enough to pass their basic eye exam.

Hazards experienced while behind the wheel may be particularly hard to spot when on rural roads, with the Institute of Advanced Motorists noting that overgrown grass and hedgerows can obscure a motorist's view.

Posted by Sarah Bailey