the driver's handbook

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d R I V E R S A N d L I C E N S I N G
10. Do you have your eyes checked regularly?
The only acceptable answer is always. Obviously, if you cannot
see, you cannot drive.
The Driver’s Handbook
Poor vision makes you respond slowly to signals, signs and traffic
events in ways that can lead to a crash.
Decline in the ability to see detail comes naturally with ageing. As
an example, a 45 year old driver requires about four times the light
required by a 19 year old to detect the same object. This is only one
of the factors that makes night driving especially difficult for older
drivers. Older drivers do not recover from glare as quickly or as fully
as younger drivers.
Suggestions:
• Firstly, have regular examinations with a doctor. If glasses are
prescribed, keep them up-to-date by letting the doctor know at
once if they are not working well for you.
• Take some refresher driving lessons where you can learn specific
techniques for coping with the limits imposed by ageing eyes.
• Reduce the amount of driving you do after dark and at dusk (one
of the most dangerous times of the day). The chances of having a
crash are three times greater at night than during the day-time.
• Be especially careful when you are going into tunnels and
undercover parking lots. Be aware that your eyes will need time to
adjust to the dimly lit surroundings.
• Always keep your windscreen clean inside and out to reduce
glare, and clean your headlights.
85–95% of all sensing information in driving come through
the eyes. Poor eyesight can affect driving ability