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Older Drivers Must Meet Vision Standards to Continue Driving, Says Government

Thursday, July 16, 2026 olderdrivers eyesight driving road safety government visionstandards ageing transportsecretary mandatorytesting independence sport

Older drivers have been urged to ensure they meet minimum eyesight requirements before getting behind the wheel. According to the Older Drivers Forum, all drivers must be able to read a vehicle’s number plate from 20 metres (65 feet 8 inches) away, using glasses or contact lenses if necessary. Failure to meet this standard not only endangers road safety but could also lead to prosecution. The Forum emphasized the importance of having an adequate field of vision and a visual acuity of at least 0.