When it comes to safe driving, clear vision is crucial. Whether it’s the challenge of vision impairment, a dirty windscreen or the ever-unpredictable UK weather, there are various factors which can negatively impact your ability to see the road clearly when you’re behind the wheel. This, unsurprisingly, can lead to accidents. We explore data concerning the places in the UK that experience the most adverse weather, common vison-related fails during driving tests, and the most common vison-related reasons for collisions and accidents.
Eyes on the road: vision & safe driving
Better luck next time: tales of the fails
Clear vision and sharp observation are critical for road safety and they are key requirements for passing a driving test in the UK. One of the first checks a learner driver must pass during their driving test is the ability to read a number plate from 20 metres away. If a driver cannot meet this requirement, the test is automatically failed. In fact, over the period of 5 years, 2,332 people have failed this requirement.
We unearthed the latest data on driving test failures due to vision-related issues. Across the UK, there have been over 752,966 instances of junction observation faults recorded, making it the most common vision-related problem for learner drivers. This fault happens when a driver fails to properly assess traffic at a junction, a task requiring clear sight and quick judgement.
But where in the UK are people experiencing the most faults when it comes to vision and observation related issues? Well, that would be London. The Goodmayes test centre in London emerges as the hotspot for vision-related faults, appearing in six different categories, including moving off safely, awareness planning and eyesight check failures. Although, the high number of faults in this region can be attributed to the high population, dense traffic and the notoriously challenging driving conditions in London.
While Goodmayes dominates the list of vision-related failures, Newport (Isle of Wight) stands out as the test centre with the highest number of faults per 100 tests in several categories. These include safely moving off and reversing right. This suggests that despite being a much
smaller, more rural area compared to London, learners in Newport face significant challenges when it comes to observation tasks when they’re behind the wheel. But there are other centres that have worrying results. Dunoon and Castle Douglas lead in faults relating to parking and eyesight checks.
Laws of the land when it comes to vision and getting behind the wheel
When you drive a car, you’re operating heavy machinery. This is why the UK has stringent legal requirements when it comes to a driver’s vision, both for passing the driving test and maintaining a valid license. Essentially, they’re there to ensure that drivers can safely operate vehicles without endangering themselves or others, be it passengers, pedestrians or other drivers. Whether you’re just learning to drive or renewing your licence, the law demands that your eyesight meets certain standards to minimise the risk of accidents.
First and foremost, all drivers must be able to read a vehicle registration plate from 20 meters away in good daylight. Drivers must also possess visual acuity, which relates to sharpness of vision, of at least Snellen 6/12 with both eyes open, or in the only eye if monocular. This means that a person can see at 6 meters what a person with normal vision can see at 12 meters. These requirements help ensure that drivers can accurately assess distances, react to road hazards, and navigate their environment without issues. Drivers who cannot meet these standards must not drive and are required to notify the DVLA, which will refuse or revoke their licence.1
For learner drivers, vision checks begin early. Passing a simple number plate reading test is an essential part of the practical driving exam. Once you hit 70, renewing your licence every three years is mandatory, and you may even need to take another eyesight test to keep driving legally.
Even beyond basic vision checks, the Highway Code has further guidelines to ensure drivers maintain clear visibility. It’s not just about seeing clearly through your eyes but also making sure your windscreen and windows are clean and free from obstructions. This means that you’ll need to ensure satnavs and mobile phones that are mounted are strategically placed to avoid obstruction. Plus, snow, dirt, or any blockages that impair your view can lead to penalties like fines, points on your licence, or worse, a charge of careless or dangerous driving. This shows how seriously the law takes clear visibility for road safety.
Eyesight issues: can you see the problem?
Not everyone takes the driving eyesight rules seriously. Getting behind the wheel with bad eyesight without wearing or using glasses or contact lenses is another cause of vision-related accidents. Uncorrected or defective eyesight was responsible for a whopping 2,648 casualties over the same period. Drivers who overlook their vision problems are not only putting themselves at risk, but also increasing the likelihood of accidents on the road. Ensuring that your eyesight is up to standard is essential for maintaining road safety and preventing potential crashes and injuries.
Although any accident is better avoided, some have had the worst possible outcome. There were 6 fatalities in 2023 alone, due to a driver or rider having uncorrected or defective eyesight and 62 over the past 10 years (2014-2023).
The location that had the highest number of casualties related to uncorrected or defective eyesight was Hampshire, with 109 of this type over the 10-year period, closely followed by Kent and then West Sussex with 103 and 100 casualties respectively.
Casualties
Defective eyesight alone isn’t the only Road Safety Factor that is vision related and contributed to accidents on the road. Simply not looking properly, also referred to as “ineffective observation” has been responsible for a whopping 621,375 casualties over 10 years across the UK. Similarly, reduced visibility due to defective or absent headlights contributed to 5,246 casualties over the same time period.
And then there is the UK weather…
Come rain or shine: driving in the UK weather
The UK is notorious for its unpredictable weather. Whether it’s dazzling sunlight or heavy rain, fog, or snow, these unpleasant conditions can dramatically reduce visibility on the roads. This is especially important when considering how much visibility impacts serious factors like reaction time, decision making and overall control of the vehicle. Based on various weather factors, certain locations in the UK are more prone to dangerous driving conditions, making it essential to understand where and when weather-induced risks are at their highest.
Vision issues can be a major factor in road accidents, especially when it comes to bad weather conditions, something we experience plenty of on this little island of ours. Between 2014 to 2023, a staggering 52,505 causalities happened as a result of vision problems caused by harsh weather conditions or glaring sunlight. While you can only do so much to avoid the notorious British weather, taking your time and being extra aware during poor weather conditions can help prevent the worst from happening.
It seems that those in the South East need to pay particular attention to how the weather impacts their driving, as over the past 10 years this region has experienced the highest number of casualties due to a driver’s vision being impacted by adverse weather or dazzling sun.
This is almost four times higher than incidents in Wales, despite this region having a reputation for heavy rainfall, suggesting that drivers should take as much care in dazzling sun as they do in the rain.
How to drive safely in dazzling sun
When the sun is bright and low it can create glare, making it difficult to see clearly. Glare can be more pronounced when the sun is low on the horizon, such as during sunrise or sunset.
The bright sun can also diminish the contrast between objects, causing them to blend into the background or appear washed out. This can make it harder to distinguish important details on the road, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or road markings, making driving potentially hazardous.
Of course, we should not stare directly at the sun and one reason for this is that sunlight directly in your field of vision can cause temporary blindness, making it impossible to see the road ahead for a brief moment. This can be extremely dangerous, especially at high speeds or in busier locations.
To help drive safely during spells of bright sun, drivers should opt to wear high-quality sunglasses with polarised lenses that help reduce glare and improve visibility. Choose tinted sunglasses in category 2, to enhance contrast and minimise eye strain. You can also adjust your sun visor to block the sun's direct rays. Tilt it to the side that provides the most effective shield against the sunlight without obstructing your view of the road.
Although it won’t lessen the brightness of the sun, drivers should keep their windshields clean, as any dirt, smudges or streaks can exacerbate glare and reduce visibility while driving. Drivers should also leave a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you to allow for increased reaction time. This will provide a buffer in case your vision is impaired by the sun.
If the glare becomes too severe, and you find it challenging to see the road ahead, consider pulling over to a safe location until conditions improve.
Which sunglasses are recommended for drivers?
All sunglasses (with a fixed tint) should carry the CE mark and meet the European Standard BS EN 1836:2005.
CE marking indicates full protection to UVA and UVB. By law, all sunglasses should have a filter category number, so you can pick out a road-safe category 2 lens by checking the frame or product description if buying online.
Polarised lenses are highly recommended for prescription sunglasses. They contain a special filter that blocks glare caused by reflected light, such as sunlight reflecting off water, snow, or other shiny surfaces. Polarised lenses can help reduce eyestrain, enhance contrast, and provide clearer vision, especially in bright conditions.
Also, as mentioned, any sunglasses- prescription or not- should carry the CE mark to ensure full protection against UVA and UVB.
Drivers should also consider the most appropriate tint colour for prescription sunglasses. Different tints can enhance visibility and provide comfort in specific lighting conditions. Grey tints are popular as they provide neutral colour perception and are effective in reducing brightness without distorting colours. Brown or amber tints can enhance contrast and depth perception, making them suitable for driving in varying light conditions. Avoid overly dark tints such as those in category 4 as these may limit visibility, especially in low-light situations, such as going through tunnels.
Collisions due to adverse weather
Adverse weather like rain, snow and fog caused 14,742 collisions in 2023. These weather conditions often reduce visibility, and combined with wet or icy road conditions, they increase the risk of accidents significantly.
When looking at the months in which drivers should be the most vigilant it was found that in 2023, December was the month where most collisions due to adverse weather occurred, totalling 2,211 collisions in the UK in this period, predominantly in “raining no high winds” conditions.
The next month with the highest number was March, with 2,034 collisions due to the weather.
It's clear that weather is a significant contributor to accidents, so it’s important to understand which areas are most affected. We looked at precipitation and visibility across the year in 50 places around the UK to see where the safest and most risky places to drive are as a result of Mother Nature. Places where you need to keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you include Swansea, as it faces 1,077.3 mm of annual precipitation. With highs of 126.6 mm in both January and December, with lower visibility during heavy rain, it makes roads more hazardous. Swansea is flanked by Bournemouth and Glasgow City which receive 848.5 mm and 791.6 mm of rainfall annually respectively.
On the other hand, Bedford stands out as one of the safer places to drive with 513.6 mm of annual rainfall and visibility consistently ranging from 9 to 12 km, offering relatively clear driving conditions across the year. Other safer spots to drive around are Darlington and Brighton and Hove. The former only experiences 441.9 mm of rainfall annually, making it one of the driest regions. It has stable visibility throughout the year of 9 to 10 km over the seasons. For the latter, despite the fact that this seaside haven receives 640 mm of annual rainfall, Brighton maintains a good visibility range of 9 to 11 km. Having a good balance of moderate rainfall and relatively high visibility massively contributes to safer driving conditions, allowing drivers to better anticipate and react to hazards on the road.
As for locations where the most weather collisions occur, it was almost exclusively Kent across the board, with the highest total weather-related collisions in each month. The only exception was April, where Surrey took the top spot.
How to improve visibility when driving in the rain and/or fog
Check your wiper blades
It may seem like common sense but ensuring your wiper blades are in good condition before travelling in the rain or snow is vital for improving your visibility, but also for avoiding a fine.
The UK Highway Code Rule 229 states that windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to your vision. Driving with faulty wipers, such as wipers with nicks or tears, may not only compromise your safety in adverse weather conditions, but also lead to a fine, as it breaches regulations which require a clear view of the road at all times.
Similarly, Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078), mandates that vehicles must be equipped with efficient windscreen wipers to provide a clear view. Driving with faulty wipers not only compromises your safety but can also lead to fines, as failing to comply with this regulation is a breach of legal standards for vehicle maintenance.
If the police catch you driving with defective wiper blades, they can issue you with a £50 fixed penalty notice for being behind the wheel in a vehicle with a part in a faulty condition. However, if they also deem your driving to be careless or reckless due to the wipers, they can charge you with a £100 on-the-spot fine or even take you to court, where the maximum fine can rise to £5,000.
There are some ways to tell if they need replacing aside from physical hints. These can include streaking, smearing, squeaking and chattering when they’re in use.
Check your headlights and brake lights before setting off
Even if it is still daylight outside, the Highway Code says you must use your headlights when visibility is less than 100m, which can happen in heavy rain. Properly functioning headlights help illuminate the road and make you more visible to oncoming traffic, while brake lights signal your intentions to drivers behind you, preventing potential accidents.
In most cases you’ll simply get a fine of £50, with no points on your licence. However, some police officers may consider driving without lights at night to be “driving without due care or attention”. If this is the case, at the very least, you’ll get a £100 fine and three points on your licence. But in serious cases, you could get a fine of up to £5,000, up to nine points on your licence, and even a court summons.
Ensure all lights, including your fog lights, are in full working order before setting off on a journey, and if not be sure to replace bulbs before driving.
Increase braking/stopping distance
In the rain your vehicle stopping distance is increased. This is due to decreased visibility from the rain and spray from vehicles in front, but also due to the grip on the road being less, meaning it takes longer for the car to stop.
For these reasons it is advised that if you’re using the two second rule, that you double this during periods of heavy rain. If the rain increases and it is not safe to pull over somewhere, reduce your speed and increase the distance between you and the car in front.
Make sure your corrective eyewear is up to date
Those that require corrective eyewear must ensure their contact lenses and/or eyeglasses prescription is up to date by attending their regular eye tests.
If you're found to be driving with eyesight that is below the legal standard without corrective eyewear to make sure that you meet the standards, you could be facing a fine of up to £1,000 and three points on your licence. In some cases, disqualification could be considered.
If you don’t currently need corrective eyewear it is important that you attend the opticians every two years to ensure any vision degeneration is caught and corrective measures are taken.
[Conclusion]
Maintaining good vision when you’re driving isn’t just a matter of safety, it’s a legal requirement. Whether you’re addressing eyesight issues with varifocal contact lenses to improve your vision, both near and far, or opting for the convenience of monthly contact lenses, ensuring you meet the UK’s vision standards is crucial for staying safe on the road. For other handy options, you can get online contact lenses that offer a wide range of choices, making it easier than ever to keep your vision sharp and your driving safe.
Methodology
Data regarding the number of driving test faults was obtained through a FOI request to the DVSA.
Precipitation and visibility data was manually collected from https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/uk
RAS0706: Reported road collisions and casualties by road safety factor and local authority, Great Britain, 10 years up to 2023
Open Government Licence v3.0
RAS0701: Reported road collisions and casualties by severity, road safety factors and road user type, Great Britain, 10 years up to 2023
Open Government Licence v3.0