Rigorism

New EU Directive Requiring Drivers to Get Periodic Eye Check Ups Done

January 14th, 2010

The EU Parliament issued a directive four years back that requires the drivers to get regular eye check-ups done. Commercial drivers have to get eye tests done once in five years and people who drive privately should test their eyesight in 10-15 years. The member states have to introduce this directive by 2011 and then enact a law implementing the directive by 2013.

Specsavers initiated a project to garner information about the impact of this directive. Around 190 employers were surveyed and it was found that more than 75% of them had no clue about this directive. This directive is very important, as Specsavers has pointed out that it is possible that more than one-third of the professional drivers have bad eyesight.

Another research was undertaken on the same lines, which involved interviews of around 2,000 UK drivers. Among the respondents, a little less than one-fifth of those who had been part of accidents in the last one year did not have perfect vision or had not put on their glasses. Moreover, many of the drivers had not gone for eye check-ups even when their opticians had recommended the same. Almost one-third had not gone for check-up in the last two years and another one-twentieth in more than ten years.

One-fifth of the drivers who required spectacles while they were driving a vehicle often did not use their glasses. One more finding of the survey was that one-tenth of the drivers had been involved in an accident or nearly escaped one as they did not have their glasses on.

Laura Butler, Specsavers Corporate Eyecare’s Corporate Account Manager, has stated that the extent of ignorance about the new directive is surprising. This directive must be followed for the general safety of the public even without any law, she said.

Staff and management must be fully aware of and comply with health and safety regulations. Find out about the range of IOSH Training Courses available, which can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures within their organisations health and safety management system.

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