#Uk driving test requirements drivers
#Uk driving test requirements driver

#Uk driving test requirements driver

If a driver fails the roadside driver’s eye test, and the police officer deems the driver to be unsafe, they could receive a ban.

You also have to be able to see clearly out of the corners of your eyes, at night and not have uncontrolled double vision. Once you have your licence, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you can pass this 20 metres driving eye test at all times. If you pass, you still must be able to pass the number plate reading test on your next driving test. When you apply for your licence again, the DVLA will ask you to have an eyesight test carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which will be done at the driving test centre. If you can’t read the plate, you’ll fail the test there and then, and your provisional licence will be revoked. You’ll be sitting at 20 metres (five car lengths) behind it and you must be able to read the car number plate precisely – wearing glasses or contact lenses if necessary is fine. When you take the driving test, the very first thing the examiner will do is to ask you to read a number plate of the car parked in front of you. There are three main points at which your eyesight will be tested for driving: when you take your driving test, a police roadside eye test, and at your optician visit. It’s not just being a bit short sighted that can be a problem field of vision, night vision, contrast sensitivity and other visual functions can all compromise safe driving.

#Uk driving test requirements drivers

If you’re successful, you’ll still have to pass the DVSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.According to the road safety charity Brake, around 3,000 injuries every year in the UK are caused by drivers with poor eyesight, so it’s crucial to be sure that your vision is good enough or, if not, is corrected by glasses or contact lenses as necessary. When you reapply for your driving licence, DVLA will ask you to have an eyesight test with DVSA. DVLA will be told and your licence will be revoked. If you cannot, you’ll fail your driving test and the test will not continue. The practical driving test eyesight testĪt the start of your practical driving test you have to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle. You may still be able to renew your lorry or bus licence if you cannot meet these standards but held your licence before 1 January 1997. You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects either eye. No defects should be present within a radius of the central 30 degrees. You must have an uninterrupted horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees with an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down. There’s no specific limit for the corrective power of contact lenses.

You can reach this standard using glasses with a corrective power not more than (+) 8 dioptres, or with contact lenses. You must have a visual acuity at least 0.8 (6/7.5) measured on the Snellen scale in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) on the Snellen scale in the other eye. You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test. 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 be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres. You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving.