Sorry Mate I Didn't See You....

[sheddy]

because I have defective eyesight

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...otorists-ineffective-and-unsafe-inquest-finds

 

[classic33]

There was a local driving instructor who refused to wear glasses when he was giving lessons.
The mother of one of his students queried it at the test centre. She picked her daughter up wearing her works clothes. Mentioning that his order would be ready to pick up the next week.

They should make declaring any vision issues part of applying for a licence. They ask about other medical issues, why not include vision in those questions.

 

[Binky]

Relying on self reporting for eye testing is problematic. Not sure what can be done though unless a mandatory requirement bought in but at what age and the cost/logistics for number of drivers affected would make it difficult but might be necessary. Better than the alternative.

Obviously I don't know what their eyesight is like but fairly often I'll be on a local backroad and will pass a driver who is obviously very elderly and is squinting through windscreen and I often wonder how well they can see. I have to say I've never had any dangerous passes etc, usually find they are going very slowly.

 

[steveindenmark]

These people along with drink and drug users who drive and kill people should be charged with manslaughter.

They say they do not need to do that because there are other charges that can be used. There may be. But you never see manslaughter type sentences handed out when people are killed by impaired drivers.

 

[presta]

They should make declaring any vision issues part of applying for a licence.

It is, and has been for at least the last 20 years to my knowledge. Items 3 & 4 of question 4 on page 2 of form D1.

 

[tyred]

Around these parts, it seems you can drive into a road worker that you didn't see from point blank range, and get off with a small fine. You'd get a more severe punishment for not paying your TV license.

https://www.donegallive.ie/news/cri...triking-stop-go-system-operator-with-car.html

 

[Ming the Merciless]

the cost/logistics for number of drivers affected would make it difficult

You have a barrier at the exit of main supermarkets. At a suitable distance a random number plate is generated. The driver has to type in the number plate. Get it wrong and the barrier won’t open. Get it wrong 3 times and you get referred for an eye test. Fail to turn up or fail the test and you get banned.

 

[mjr]

One problem is a perceived lack of competitive viable alternatives to driving in much of the country. Bikes and public transport will work for more journeys than most people think, but that's still not as easy on a cold winter evening where buses finish at 1730 and taxis are expensive.

̊There may also be a spiral here, in that all the people who are driving who shouldn't be, may be so many that we'd have better public transport if they all bought transport passes! But until they do, we don't, so they won't.

This is a fairness problem. It's not fair to make basic life in this country so much harder for people unfit to drive, especially through disability or illness. We should have an Equalities Act that outlaws stupidity like council or health pervices only reasonably accessed by driving.

 

[Profpointy]

I rather suspect people with poor eyesight is a relatively minor problem. A far bigger problem is people not looking, or worse, looking but not registering cyclists as being of consequence, worse still, there are a fair few people deliberately trying to intimidate cyclists, egged on by the likes of the daily mail

 

[fossyant]

I rather suspect people with poor eyesight is a relatively minor problem.

It's a big problem. FIL was driving when he couldn't see properly, and SIL last year was driving, then decided she needed an eye test (previously non-glasses wearer) as she was struggling at night - both eyes had cataracts and were operated on within a short period of time. She'd been driving for god knows how long with poor eyesight. Having been short sighted since my late teens, I'm very aware when I can't focus on the fine detail on say the TV or number plates.

 

[cyberknight]

One problem is a perceived lack of competitive viable alternatives to driving in much of the country. Bikes and public transport will work for more journeys than most people think, but that's still not as easy on a cold winter evening where buses finish at 1730 and taxis are expensive.

̊There may also be a spiral here, in that all the people who are driving who shouldn't be, may be so many that we'd have better public transport if they all bought transport passes! But until they do, we don't, so they won't.

This is a fairness problem. It's not fair to make basic life in this country so much harder for people unfit to drive, especially through disability or illness. We should have an Equalities Act that outlaws stupidity like council or health pervices only reasonably accessed by driving.

I cant even get to work via public transport

 

[mjr]

I cant even get to work via public transport

It's similar around here. Unless you start after 0830 and finish at 1730 in the town centre, you at least need to active travel over 2 miles to or from a stop with 9pm service for buses to be an option. It's not a useful transport service for most people. So they are desperate to drive. Even when they really ought not. It's bad, cruel and unjust to run a country so.

 

[cyberknight]

It's similar around here. Unless you start after 0830 and finish at 1730 in the town centre, you at least need to active travel over 2 miles to or from a stop with 9pm service for buses to be an option. It's not a useful transport service for most people. So they are desperate to drive. Even when they really ought not. It's bad, cruel and unjust to run a country so.

assuming they ran buses at the times i work which they dont to get home i would need to walk about 2 miles to the closest village , catch a bus into town , wait for a bus heading home to actually get to my village . I worked out during the day time it would take about 2 hours each way but when i start at 5 am on earlies then dont finish till after midnight on lates i am not goign to get a bus anyway . About 35 mins on the bike , about 15-20 mins in the car.

 

[Baldy]

I rather suspect people with poor eyesight is a relatively minor problem. A far bigger problem is people not looking,

When I was still working I drove a bright red 44 tonner, I've had the "SMDSY" in that. If they can't see something that big no chance of seeing a cyclist. A lot of the problem is they're to busy looking at their phone, satnav, paper, map, infotanement system, tuning in to radio 4, talking to their passengers or generally not paying attention. No amount of eye tests is going to fix that.

 

[Profpointy]

When I was still working I drove a bright red 44 tonner, I've had the "SMDSY" in that. If they can't see something that big no chance of seeing a cyclist. A lot of the problem is they're to busy looking at their phone, satnav, paper, map, infotanement system, tuning in to radio 4, talking to their passengers or generally not paying attention. No amount of eye tests is going to fix that.

Exactly my point 👍