New powers to revoke licences for poor eyesight

By ALASTAIR DALTON
Published on 07/02/2013 12:02

DRIVERS with poor sight will have their licence revoked within hours rather than days from today thanks to a campaign launched after the death of a teenager hit by a car whose driver had just failed an eyesight test.

Cassie McCord, 16, died after the collision in Essex two years ago today. The 87-year car driver had been stopped by police days earlier who found his vision was sub-standard, but they did not have the power to immediately ban him from the roads.

UK road safety minister Stephen Hammond announced today that the new system - which will operate across Britain - would enable police to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of eyesight failures electronically so a licence could be revoked within hours.

Previously, officers had to post or fax the information, with the process taking up to four days.

Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20m (67ft). If they fail the test, they can have their licence restored following confirmation from an optician that their vision has been corrected, such as with glasses or contact lenses.

Mr Hammond said: “All drivers have a responsibility to make sure they are fit to drive, every time they get behind the wheel and this includes making sure they meet minimum eyesight standards. The DVLA and police have worked closely to streamline the process for revoking a licence when the police identify that a driver’s eyesight is inadequate.”