This week is National Eye Health Week, an important week which promotes the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests.

Good eye sight is vital for any driver as you stay alert and aware of your surroundings, watch out for hazards and look for direction from road signs and markings. Drivers and motorcyclists must be able to read a vehicle registration plate from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres if the vehicle was registered before September 2001) wearing glasses or contact lenses if required.

Your eyesight often deteriorates as you get older, but eye conditions can develop at any age, and can all have an effect on your ability to drive safely on the roads.  Glaucoma and cataracts are both well-known conditions which, if left untreated, could affect your ability to use the road safely.

If you find it difficult to see or read road signs, it could mean that your eyesight has deteriorated. Don’t ignore it, make an appointment as you may require lenses to correct your vision.

Teresa Ciano, GoSafe Partnership Manager & Chair of Road Safety Wales, said:

“We would recommend having an eye test every two years whether you already have corrective eyewear or not, or more often if your optician suggests it. This can not only help to make sure you meet the minimum eyesight standards for driving or riding, but may also identify some other health conditions that you may not yet be aware of, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Please be aware that if you drive with eyesight below the minimum legal standard you are increasing the risk of a collision, a fine, penalty points and potential prosecution depending on the severity of any incident that may occur.”

For more information on driving sight rules, please see the DVLA website.