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Driving is something many of us do every day without thinking much about it but it is probably one of the most dangerous things you do regularly.

Do I need to wear my glasses when driving?

Every driver should make sure they have regular eye tests because poor vision could significantly affect someone’s ability to drive safely.

Specsavers Northern Ireland chairman Brian O’Kane said: ‘Your eyesight can deteriorate very slowly, meaning you might not even notice when your eyesight falls below the standard required for driving. That’s why it’s so important to have an eye test every two years, or sooner, if you notice a change in your vision.

In order to meet the legal requirement for driving in Northern Ireland, all drivers need to be able to read a licence plate from 20.5m in clear conditions. If you can’t meet this standard your insurance will be invalid.

However, the only time a motorist’s eyesight is checked is when they take their driving test. The current system relies on drivers to self-test and keep up-to-date with their eye examinations, which not everyone does,’ said Brian.

‘The law also states that certain eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma must be reported to the DVLA.’

The onus is on drivers to report their sight problems to the DVLA. Drivers who don’t make the DVLA aware of their issues or fail to have regular eye tests risk serious repercussions if involved in an accident.

(Text courtesy of Specsavers)

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