1,500 drivers lose licence to failed eye-test - Select Car Leasing
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1,500 drivers in five years lose licence due to failed eye-tests

In the last five years police forces have told the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that when tested, 1,486 drivers have been unable to read a number plate from 20 metres. 

As a result of these referrals, 1,436 motorists had their licenses revoked. 

The figures were revealed by the DVLA following a Freedom of Information request by leading automotive outfit Select Car Leasing. 


Select Car Leasing’s Managing Director, Graham Conway, said:

“Eyesight is clearly an important part of being able to drive and it needs to be taken seriously.  At the start of each practical driving test every learner needs to be able to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle.  After that, it’s the responsibility of each driver to have regular eye tests and inform the DVLA of problems. Problems with eyesight can not only put you at risk but also put other motorists, passengers and pedestrians in danger.”

Drivers are required to tell the DVLA of any problem with their sight that affects both eyes, or the remaining eye if they only have one.  

The government agency says that to reach the “standards of vision for driving”, motorists in charge of a car or motorcycle must be able to read a car number plate made after September 1 2001 from 20 metres.


Drivers must wear glasses or contact lenses every time they drive if they need them to meet this standard, the motoring body warns.

The rules state:

“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 (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
You must also have an adequate field of vision – your optician can tell you about this and do a test.”

The Snellen scale is usually a number of rows of letters which gets smaller as you go down the chart. 

Lorry and bus drivers must have a higher standard of eyesight than those driving cars and motorcycles. 

A total of 38,090 car and motorcycle drivers have had their licenses refused or revoked in the last five years for failing to meet the minimum standards for driving. 

Meanwhile, 3,253 lorry and bus drivers have had their licenses refused or revoked for the same reason. 



Number of D751E referrals received by the DVLA from police forces:

2016 320
2017 291
2018 325
2019 309
2020 241


Number of licences revoked following D751E referrals:

2016 317
2017 273
2018 316
2019 297
2020 233


Number of group one drivers (cars/motorcycles) who have had their licences revoked or refused due to not meeting the minimum vision standards for driving: 

2016 8875
2017 7982
2018 8081
2019 8602
2020 4550


Number of group two drivers (lorries/buses) who have had their licences revoked or refused due to not meeting the minimum vision standards for driving: 

2016 652
2017 672
2018 807
2019 721
2020 401



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I had a great first experience with leasing from Select car leasing and am so happy with my new car David talked me through the whole process and answered any questions I had..he explained everything in basic terms so I knew and understood everything We waited a few days for the credit checks to come back and I asked David if it usually took this long..he assured me it did so I think it was about 5 working days and he rang with the good news The paperwork side of things then took over and once that was all completed,it was just to wait for a date The whole process was done over the portal so you could keep up to date with any developments but if you had any questions, then David was reachable by phone We had a date for the car delivery and the driver turned up after giving me a ring, earlier in the morning to confirm a time..the car arrived and I checked it over as we had to sign to say say everything was OK with the car. All is great and am so happy with my new car I would highly recommend this company for your lease car
Mrs. Alison Pedrazzini

Thursday, 28/03/2024