Driver eye tests
Compulsory eye tests for drivers over 70 are being considered by the UK government to check they are safe to drive. The move comes three years after tests were recommended.
Two fatalities due to poor vision and the Duke of Edinburgh accident is hardly a basis to justify a wholesale assault on 70+’s. Then there’s the further evidence that the over-70s have the lowest casualty rate. If the purpose of this review is to reduce road accidents how about a review of under-25s?
George Lindsay Statistics, and then there’s statistics. If the figures are based on how many over-70s that hold a licence then they could be misleading. Many in that age group will have given up driving. I would be more interested in the accident rate in the number who are still driving. Most people over a certain age in Scotland qualify for free eye test, I believe.
Richard Rawlins In the Philippines everyone has to renew their driving licence every five years, used to be three. In order to proceed with the application you have to pass a strict medical, including, of course, an eye test. The use of single use plastic bags was outlawed many years ago. It’s funny how long it takes the ‘developed’ countries to catch on.
Bob Roberts The eye test should be compulsory for all drivers irrelevant of age, say every five years, those with medical conditions more often. We also need to consider a renewal of the photo on the licence as well. What about weight? Some people have reduced movement due to their girth.
Gavin Beattie Compulsory driving tests every 10 years for all would help improve the standard of driving. It might reduce the numbers of vehicles on roads as the Audi drivers have to relearn the use of indicators and BMW drivers the concept of a safe distance.
Oldyun
As he drove me to the airport my father narrowly missed a huge truck and gave the rest of us a terrible fright. I asked him whether he’d seen the truck on the roundabout. He replied: “What roundabout”?
carpe diem
Optometrists cannot report those who don’t meet driving standards under current legislation. There’s the problem. Sounds like a good idea from the UK government. So what angle will the SNP concoct in opposing it?
Jock Tamson
Everyone is talking about eye tests, but let’s be honest, drivers slip into bad habits. Everyone should have to sit a driving test every 10 years.
John Pendlebury
Lol considering so many younger have to wear corrective lenses, this is rather silly. Also, you pay higher insurance premiums “because” you cause more accidents. And while we’re at it, in the interest of reality let’s have the cyclists start taking them as well. They seem to have a real problem seeing
Make up your mind, Scottish “Government”. On the one hand you’re begging for more powers, wanting to go independent, but as soon as there is a problem you fail to cope with you are looking for help elsewhere, even if it’s the much-hated English Government . And you want to run this country by
Inchgower 2 Sending taxes to London in return for bad governance is insane. Time to ditch Westminster intransigence. Let the people in Scotland decide what happens in Scotland.
Elliot Dreghorn The SNP are governing most of our everyday lives, including the drug problem as most powers are devolved. If you are saying they have no control and Westminster is controlling everything, then what the heck are we paying those MSPS in Holyrood for?
kmcn