Public support for compulsory and current eye tests for drivers is high

• 83 per cent of adults support compulsory and more frequent eye tests for drivers
• One in eight drivers admit they don’t think their eyesight is road legal, or aren’t sure if it is
• A quarter of drivers haven’t had an eye test in the past two years
• Department of Transport data shows that uncorrected or defective eyesight was a factor in 252 collisions in 2023

New research from Churchill motor insurance1 shows that 83 per cent of adults support compulsory eye tests for drivers every ten years. This rises to 88 per cent who support testing every three years for drivers over the age of 70 – aligned to the dates when older drivers need to re-apply for their driving licence.

The support for eye tests amongst drivers themselves is also high: 82 per cent of drivers support compulsory eye tests every ten years for all drivers and 88 per cent of drivers support three-yearly testing for those over 70. In fact, 83 per cent of drivers who are themselves over the age of 70 support eye tests every three years for older drivers.

At present, drivers must pass a vision test when they take their driving test – whether they can read a driving licence 20 meters away - which is the only time they are required to prove their eyesight is good enough to drive. Drivers over the age of 70 must self-declare that they are medically fit to drive every three years.

Department of Transport data2 shows that uncorrected or defective eyesight was a factor in 252 collisions in 2023, six of which were fatal – the highest number since 2018.

Worryingly, one in eight drivers (12 per cent) surveyed by Churchill3 admitted that they thought their eyesight isn’t road legal, or they weren’t sure if it is.

Churchill’s research also revealed that a quarter of drivers (24 per cent) haven’t had an eye test in the past two years and, of those, four per cent admitted that they have never had an eye test. The NHS recommends that everyone should have an eye test every two years. 

The research revealed that 80 per cent of those who have been told that they must wear glasses or contact lenses when driving actually do so. However, 11 per cent admit driving without their glasses or lenses sometimes and a further four per cent admit that they never wear their glasses or lenses when driving. Of those driving without their glasses or lenses, a quarter (25 per cent) admit to not being able to read road signs, 21 per cent say they had a ‘near miss’ as a result and 25 per cent say that they collided with another car or an object.

Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, commented: “It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn’t good enough – or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses.

“Our research suggests that there’s overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The research was conducted by Opinium between 20th and 23rd May 2025 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults – 1,312 of whom were drivers.

1. RAS0701-RSF: Number of casualties in reported road collisions with different road safety factors assigned, by severity, Great Britain, 10 years up to 2023 where the ‘Driver or rider had uncorrected or defective eyesight’

1. The research was conducted by Opinium between 4th and 8th October 2024 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults.

For further information, please contact:

Direct Line Group:

Unni Henry 

PR Manager

Email: unni.henry@directlinegroup.co.uk

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line. 

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.   

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com.