Driving Test - Eyesight

Shmo

Shmo

Shmo

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9 Jan 2005
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715
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High Wycombe :/
Finally got round to doing my driving test which is booked in for later this month. Thing I'm worried about is the eyesight test as I'm borderline for being able to see the car number plates. When I go and measure them exactly I can usually see it alright but when I'm parked up with my instructor and he points to a random car it's hit and miss, usually miss.

I have glasses (got them specially for driving, though I don't wear them for lessons or at any other time) and my instructor said it'd be fine to try and see the plate with them off and then put them on for the whole of the test if I can't. I'm just wondering if this is likely to be alright especially as I may have to get the instructor to measure a plate out properly, don't want to fail at the first hurdle. I really don't want to be wearing glasses when driving for the rest of my life if I don't have to. The glasses are very weak and only make a slight difference so they're more of a hinderance when driving than a help as I'm not used to wearing them.

Any advice?
 
I had exactly the same problem as you, my vision was just a little out like yours, i got contact lenses wasnt too expensive as i was under 18 but i wore them for my test only and all went fine. your best bet is before you go in to take your test, go over to where they test your eye sight and look at the plates if your confident you can read them then go for it, otherwise just wear your glasses, i found contact lenses to be a pain in the arse as i could always feel them in my eye.

GL :D
 
but if he can pass them without hes glasses on it gets stated he dosnt need them correct? so if passes with them on and hasnt got them on him 1 day driving and has a crash not due to vision problem the insurance company will be a bit funny with that i would think. just my 2 cents, if my eyes get any worse i will just go for eye laser as its got a lot cheaper over the years
 
If your borderline then you should be wearing them, so wear them, the examiner might get funny if you don't get your first one right, whip out a pair og glasses and get the next one. If you've been given glasses for driving then you should be wearing them for driving. Your technically not covered by any form of car insurance if you're not wearing them and should be, therefore breaking the law and facing a ban before you even pass. So wear them and good luck

[EDIT]
Kuhan said:
but if he can pass them without hes glasses on it gets stated he dosnt need them correct?
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If he has a prescription for them, then he needs them...whether he passes with or without, insurance company could go through his records and see that he has a prescription for them, then blame it on the fact that he wasn't wearing his glasses making him at fault
 
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If the examiner points at a random car and you can't read it, he will get the measuring tape out. It's probably best to get used to wearing them incase you do need them.

If your eyesight gets worse over the next few months and you have an accident w/o glasses, you will be in trouble.
 
Read the number plate without glasses in the end, was pretty comfortable so quite pleased about that. Bollocksed up the test though on this roundabout. Blew it big time. Got in the wrong lane, missed my turning, nearly turned onto the M4 and nearly cut someone up the second time round.
 
This was the only thing i was worried about on my test, with my contacts in i was assured by my optition that i was fine, but this didnt stop me trying to read the plates on the cars at work in the carpark. On the day i read the plate but got the 'W' as a 'M', he said 'are you sure its a 'W' and i thought oops, i will quess at a 'M' (it could have been a N also).

still didnt make me feel to good.
 
That roundabout is a complete *******:(

Roundabouts are a new thing to me since I haven't lived in the UK very long, but that one in particular just seems unnecessarily confusing.
 
Yeah I failed on that roundabout. Got a serious for lane discipline and reading road markings. It was the bit where the lane markings disappear, felt like I was lost out there.

If you have to wear glasses for the test then it gets put on your license so you need to wear them all the time driving apparently. I've been refusing to wear glasses since primary school and don't want to start now :)
 
Kuhan said:
but if he can pass them without hes glasses on it gets stated he dosnt need them correct? so if passes with them on and hasnt got them on him 1 day driving and has a crash not due to vision problem the insurance company will be a bit funny with that i would think. just my 2 cents, if my eyes get any worse i will just go for eye laser as its got a lot cheaper over the years
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There's nothing on a license that states a driver needs to wear glasses. Certainly aint on mine and I have worn them since age 10. Also if i'm wearing contacts how would an examiner know one way or the other.
Basically if he can't see well without them he should wear them, i'm sure i wouldn't consider myself safe if i could just borderline pass a test by screwing up my eyes to read a plate. What chance has he got with road sign further away or hazards in the distance.. this thread and question is just stupid.
 
pinkaardvark said:
Basically if he can't see well without them he should wear them, i'm sure i wouldn't consider myself safe if i could just borderline pass a test by screwing up my eyes to read a plate. What chance has he got with road sign further away or hazards in the distance.. this thread and question is just stupid.
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I agree, I can't see what the issue is. If the OP can't see the plate, then he should be using eye correction for the test and when driving afterwards. Whats the big deal?
 
Shmo said:
If you have to wear glasses for the test then it gets put on your license so you need to wear them all the time driving apparently. I've been refusing to wear glasses since primary school and don't want to start now :)
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Oh right. What if you pass but then wear contacts or get laser eye, please dont tell me you have to take the test again !
 
therealnerd2 said:
Well, good for you! It's on mine - 01 for eyesight correction. License invalid without glasses/contacts.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_10022623
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Cheers for the link, apparantly I'm an organ donor as well (115) on mine. I wasn't aware I'd even signed up for the register at the time which seems mildly cheeky of them but not really a problem for me.

As to the eyesight correction by laser surgery, I'd guess that you could get a certificate or similar from an optician afterwards to state you are now of the required visual acuity and that the code (01) should be taken off your licence. That is just what I'd think would be common sense though. :)
 
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