Exact dvla eyesight rules as drivers warned of £1,000 fine and court risk

GOVERNMENT RULES STATE THAT PEOPLE CAN BE PROSECUTED IF THEY DRIVE WITHOUT MEETING THE STANDARDS OF VISION FOR DRIVING 14:17, 02 Jun 2025 Drivers are being warned about DVLA rules regarding

eyesight. Anyone who breaches the regulations risks a hefty fine and even court prosecution. You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects both of your eyes,

or the remaining eye if you only have one eye. This does not include being short or long sighted or colour blind. You also do not need to say if you’ve had surgery to correct short

sightedness and can meet the eyesight standards. However, you must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’. You

could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving. According to Gov.uk: "You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a

visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye." The Snellen scale is a

standardised visual acuity chart used to measure how well a person can see at a distance. You must also have an adequate field of vision. At the start of your practical driving test you have

to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle. If you get it wrong after three tries, you'll fail the entire test immediately, reports the Liverpool Echo. Also, the DVLA will be

told and your licence will be revoked. DVLA will ask you to have an eyesight test with DVSA, this will be at a driving test centre. According to research from the Association of

Optometrists (AOP), two-thirds of drivers in the UK who use glasses are "putting off" updating their prescription. As a result, their vision isn’t suitable for driving. Article

continues below The data showed that up to 20% of drivers who require glasses have not had their eyes tested in at least three years. Having the wrong eyesight prescription can result in a

fine of £1,000 and in the most serious cases, a driving disqualification. RAC states: "The police have the power to carry out vision screen tests on the side of the road. Drivers who

are pulled over will need to be able to read a number plate 20 metres away." Article continues below Police data from 2022-23 showed that around 3,000 people are killed or injured by

drivers with bad eyesight (or where eyesight has played a part in the cause of the collision) every year. Further research from the Department for Transport (DfT) has shown that 42% of

incidents involving drivers over the age of 70 were due to sight issues. If a driver has a condition in one eye and another condition affecting the other eye, then they will need to fill in

and send form V1 to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. You need to tell DVLA about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving. You’ll need to enter some details about your

current driving licence and your condition. If you report your condition to DVLA through the service, you might need to give your GP or consultant’s name and address. After you inform the

DVLA you will receive a letter with a decision about whether you can keep your license.