NEW EYESIGHT SURVEY

A SURVEY commissioned by Specsavers Opticians has revealed eye-opening statistics in its campaign to raise awareness about the importance of driving with the correct prescription.

Of the 2,000 people surveyed*, more than 87% of drivers are in favour of compulsory eye examinations for drivers every five years, particularly for the over 40s. An astonishing 53% are also in favour of random roadside testing of drivers’ eyesight.

The survey also revealed that one in three drivers may not have had an eye test in the last two years, meaning they could be endangering other road users and greatly increasing their risk of having a serious accident. Which is why the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has recently announced its support of the Specsavers’ campaign.

Respondents were asked some questions about driving and their vision and whether they agreed with some compulsory eye sight testing.
They interviewed 2005 adults aged 17+ between 20th-26th June 2002. Interviews were conducted in-home using a Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system. The sampling technique used in this survey was random location.

Just under 3 in 10 (29%) of adults 17+ need to wear glasses or contact lenses for driving.
A similar proportion of men and women need corrective vision for driving.

Table 1: Corrective vision for driving by age

17-25 9%
25-35 22%
35-45 31%
45-55 31%
55-65 42%
65+ 36%

As the table shows, older respondents are more likely to need to wear glasses or lenses when driving than younger respondents.

Eye tests
Two-thirds of adults aged 17+ said they had been for an eye test in the last 2 years.
Women (68%) were slightly more likely than men (60%) to have been for a test.
Older respondents were also more likely to have had their eyes tested than younger respondents. For example, only 45% of respondents aged 17-25 had been for a test in the last 2 years compared to 81% of respondents aged 55+. This is probably because the older respondents are more likely to wear glasses or contact lenses and therefore as a consequence need regular checks.
Londoners were the least likely to have had their eyes tested. Half of them said they hadn't been for test in the last 2 years.
66% of drivers said they had been for an eye test. So a third of drivers haven't had their eyes tested in the last 2 years.Not surprisingly, respondents who wear glasses or lenses are more likely to have had their eyes tested than respondents who don't. 83% of adults who wear glasses or lenses have been for a sight test in the last 2 years compared to just 31% of those who don't.
The main reason given for not having a sight test was, 'Don't have a problem with my eyesight'. This was said by just under a quarter (23%) of respondents
Experience of sight problems whilst driving
Respondents who drive were asked whether they had ever experience problems reading road signs- 8% said they had.
Respondents who had experienced problems tended to be older.
Just under a fifth (19%) of respondents who had ever had problems reading road signs haven't had their eyes tested in the last 2 years.
1.5% of drivers have experienced problems reading road signs but haven't had their eyes tested for over 2 years (This equates to just under half a million drivers).

Carrying spare glasses or contact lenses whilst driving

Drivers who wear glasses or contact lenses for driving were asked whether they carry a spare with them when they are driving. Just under three-fifths (57%) say they don't.
Women (60%) are slightly less likely than men (53%) to carry a spare pair.
Younger respondents are also less likely:
Table 2: Do not carry spare glasses or lenses when driving by age

17-24 77%
25-34 68%
35-44 62%
45-54 49%
55-64 53%
65+ 51%
All adults were asked whether they thought it should become law that drivers who require corrective vision for driving carry a spare of glasses in the car.
Just under two-thirds (65%) of respondents said they thought it should.

Respondents in East Anglia (50%) and Londoners (58%) were least likely to agree.
Respondents in the North West (74%) and West Midlands (71%) and Yorkshire/Humberside (70%) were most likely to agree.

Perhaps not surprisingly, drivers (59%) were less likely than non-drivers to agree (78%)
Also respondents who need corrective vision for driving were less likely to agree, with less than half (49%) agreeing.

Eye Tests

Respondents were asked whether they would be in favour of compulsory eye tests for drivers, every 5 years, for drivers over the aged of 45 or for random roadside testing.

Table 5: Compulsory tests
Every 5 years 87%
Over the age of 45 80%
Random roadside testing 53%