Regional lead update: South West of England
Deteriorating eyesight is where the relevance to DOs at work becomes clear
Road safety is an important topic for us all – and as a parent of a young driver, it was something I became far more aware of (translation: terrified of) when he started to learn to drive. Even those who don’t drive will have partners, parents, children and friends who do – and will themselves travel on the roads at some point.
In the South West of England, we have more country roads than more densely-populated areas, and rural roads have been shown to be the most dangerous per mile travelled, accounting for more than half of the fatal crashes occurring in the UK according to road safety charity Brake UK.
In addition, we have an older population compared to the rest of the UK, as the region has the highest proportion of residents aged 65 and over, approaching 24 per cent of the entire population. Since 2002, this figure has increased by more than 18 per cent. Additionally, during the summer months, the region swells with holidaymakers who are less familiar with our roads, making this an issue that affects us all.
These statistics, together with the growing media attention on poor eyesight contributing to road accidents, paint a worrying picture. The encouraging part is that the issue is finally gaining recognition, and steps are being taken to address it – most notably the government’s current consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight tests for drivers aged 70 and over in order to renew their driving licence. We hope this marks the beginning of further work to strengthen vision standards and improve road safety more broadly.
Crucial role of dispensing opticians
In his March Post from the President column, ABDO president, Kevin Gutsell, reminded us that dispensing opticians (DOs) have a crucial part to play in optimising drivers’ vision with appropriate spectacles fitting, lenses and coatings.
Vision Zero South West is a multi-disciplinary organisation that includes the emergency services, NHS trusts, councils, air ambulance charities and National Highways. It has committed to a target of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads to 50 per cent by 2030, and its ultimate aim is zero. All its work is evidence-led and focuses on those most at risk, which includes motorcyclists, cyclists, younger drivers and older drivers.
It has been recognised that there are several risk factors affecting older drivers:
- Deteriorating eyesight and reduced reaction times
- Reduced mobility and any associated pain
- Cognitive impairment including dementia
- Illnesses or medical conditions (some medicines may impede reaction time)
- Pedal confusion when using an automatic car
Top of this list is deteriorating eyesight, and this is where the relevance to DOs at work becomes clear. This topic has been the subject of much work behind the scenes by ABDO to ensure that, as a profession, we use all our available influence to both improve road safety, and elevate recognition for our significant skillset, knowledge and experience in this field.
We all know someone who avoids driving at night because they struggle with vision or glare, and in fact recent RAC research discovered it affects up to 78 per cent of drivers, who described it as “difficult” or “uncomfortable”. Forty-five per cent of respondents said they avoided driving at night as they felt unsafe and over 75s were significantly more highly represented in this statistic.
In 2016, the Department of Transport (DfT) funded a report demonstrating that age-related vision changes affected cognitive function and driving performance. One aspect of the report demonstrated that 51 per cent of drivers aged 70 or over, stopped for driving without due care and attention, required an eyesight correction.
The proposed change to the current system of self-declaration when renewing a driving licence would bring us in line with a number of European countries, which have already recognised this concern and implemented a more stringent system.
Have your say
There is an opportunity to have your say too. The DfT is seeking your views on introducing mandatory eyesight tests for older drivers as part of the driving license renewal process, and until 11 May you have the chance to add your support to this process via the consultation.
I hope you will add your support to the consultation and any further reforms that should follow, and you can send feedback to policy@abdo.org.uk
As always, I can be contacted at pbradford@abdo.org.uk
Wishing you and yours a wonderful spring, and safe travels wherever they take you.
Useful websites
Pauline Bradford FBDO CL FBCLA AFHEA is ABDO regional lead in the South West of England. Email pbradford@abdo.org.uk