Drivers face roadside eye checks as nights draw in

Police across the region are carrying out roadside eye tests as part of a national road safety campaign.

Now the clocks have changed, more drivers will be out on the roads after dark.

Insp Jason Baxter, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "Good vision is a prerequisite of safe driving, so it's vital that before you get behind the wheel you are sure that your eyesight is up to the task."

Drivers unable to read a number plate from a distance of 20m (about 65ft) during daylight risk having their licences taken away under Cassie's Law legislation.

Insp Baxter said: "If you fail the required standards, you are breaking the law and this could mean a fine of up to £1,000, three penalty points and even possible disqualification."

Insp Neil Hutchins, of Humberside Police, said: "Vision can decline gradually without you realising, so we are urging everyone to make sure they have regular eye tests as well as checking that friends and older relatives are getting tested regularly, too.

"As the nights draw in, vulnerable road users (such as horse riders, cyclists and motorcyclists) can be harder to spot, making good eyesight even more essential for all road users."

Cassie's Law, introduced in 2013, was inspired by the death of 16-year-old Cassie McCord.

She died in 2011 when 87-year-old Colin Horsfall lost control of his car in Colchester, having failed a police eyesight check days earlier.

Since the introduction of the law, officers can request an urgent revocation of a driver's licence through the DVLA if they believe other road users could be at risk.

The initiative, which runs over the next two weeks, is part of the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Dark Night campaign.

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