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Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Thursday, 23 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 (named day). It was answered by Andrew Jones (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Driving: Eyesight

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct the DVLA to ensure that opticians are required to report drivers whose eye test has revealed that their eyesight, even with glasses or lenses, is below the standards needed to drive safely.

Answer

All drivers have an ongoing legal responsibility to ensure that they meet the vision standards for driving, wearing glasses or corrective lenses if needed. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) makes the eyesight standards for driving clear in leaflets, forms and on GOV.UK.

Opticians and optometrists already have a duty of care to their patients and the general public. On this basis they can already inform the DVLA of instances where they consider a patient to be unfit to drive. This is supported by guidance issued by the Royal College of Optometrists.

The DVLA’s “Assessing Fitness to Drive: A Guide for Medical Professionals” clarifies medical professionals’ obligations to notify a condition to the DVLA if their patient is unwilling or unable to report it themselves.

There are no plans to introduce a legal requirement for opticians to inform the DVLA if a driver is unable to meet the required eyesight standards for driving.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
68915
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Disclosure of information Driving Eyesight Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Testing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk