Excuse My Ignorance.

[needawin]

Excuse my ignorance but is it legal and within the terms of your insurance policy to drive when you suspect your eyes may be affected or sight impaired.

[barry1010]

No it isn't legal to drive if your senses are impaired in any way that can affect your ability to drive.

[dannyk13]

In regard to eyesight:-
//The law states that all drivers of motor cars must be able to read a standard number plate, in good daylight, from a distance of twenty metres – with spectacles or corrective lenses if required.//

[bhg481]

I do wonder about the wisdom of making what must have been at least a 4-hour drive when you are not feeling well.

[vulcan42]

I never quite understood the number plate rule.This is done when the person and car are both standing still, your eyesight must be pretty bad if you can't read it. On the road however nearly everything is moving, that is not the time to be reading number plates! :o) TIG

[barry1010]

Oh! Is this another question about Cummings? I wouldn't have replied had I known.

[barry1010]

Vulcan, what test would you do instead of reading stationary number plates?

[bhg481]

The number plate test is an easy way to check that a driver's vision is reasonable; the test can be carried out at the roadside with no special equipment required.

[aelmpvw]

if you can see a castle from twenty metres you're probably ok to drive

[dannyk13]

Vulcan, // that is not the time to be reading number plates!//
Why would anyone, apart from the police, be reading number plates whilst moving? The eyesight test is used by the police at the scene when they suspect a driver has bad eyesight.

[tiggerblue10]

Did he say his eyes felt better before he drove?

[woofgang]

Vulcan my eyesight isn't pretty bad but I can't pass the numberplate test without glasses. I wear glasses to drive in and have for many years now. Its the only time I need them.

Again, while this is in no way a defence, my late husband had a string of operations and procedures during the time that his mother was dying some 120 miles away from us. Each time after he came out of hospital, we would go for a short drive together to ensure that he felt, and was, safe to drive to his Mum alone. It sounds to me as though the visual problems described were not there all the time and to me it sounds sensible to see if driving would trigger them before making a longer journey.

[pixie374]

I'm not sure it is illegal to drive while you "suspect" your eyesight isn't good, as long as it actually is.

[barry1010]

pixie, if a person suspects his eyesight isn't good enough to drive he should get it checked out before he drives. If he has an accident he has no defence.

[pixie374]

Yes, of course. But if the eyesight is fine, he isn't driving illegally, is he? Even if he isn't sure.

[barry1010]

If his eyesight is fine why would he suspect it wasn't? He must have some sort of problem to suspect it

[pixie374]

Not necessarily, and not necessarily severe enough. Either it's good enough or it isn't, whether you actually know that or not.
I'm not trying to make any defence for him- I was reading the question as being about law, rather than morals.

[jno]

I can understand people driving round the block a few times to check their vision, and even taking along a spouse, to take the wheel if it didn't work out. But taking a child? Why experiment on them?

[pixie374]

Well, if you're willing to experiment on other road users...

[woofgang]

jno, the child is autistic...it may be a better option than leaving them. Yes I know the plan was to leave them with relaives if both parents were ill but that's a different circ and a different decision.

[vulcan42]

I did infer my answer was tongue in cheek. Seriously, I think that test is outdated, a proper eyesight test should be part of gaining a driving licence. The safety of vehicles has constantly been updated yet the potential new drivers eyesight, which lets face it, is the most important factor in driving, is still based on a nearly ninety year old rule. Over that period vehicles have become more prolific and faster.
HG drivers need medicals, safety on the roads should include the same for all drivers. I am at the age when my licence is renewed every three years, on the application form I only have to state my eyesight is good enough, proof is not required. I believe this is wrong, everybody should have to provide proof their eyesight is good enough for driving. I'm not aware of any statistics but I do wonder how many accidents are caused by bad eyesight.