§ 29. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the findings of a mobile unit 170 set up by the Optical Information Council, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will introduce regulations to tighten up the present eyesight requirements of the driving test.
§ Mr. MurrayNo, Sir. We have had no evidence from the Optical Information Council that a change in present arrangements is necessary.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonSince between 500,000 and 1 million people driving on our roads cannot pass the basic eyesight test required for the driving test, surely they constitute a considerable road accident hazard? Is not the Minister being too complacent if he feels that nothing should be done?
§ Mr. MurrayThe figures quoted by the hon. Gentleman are not quite accurate. The percentage given by the Optical Information Council was 2.44, and this reckons out at about 400,000 drivers. The law is clear. Drivers should have a minimum standard of eyesight, and, of course, it is an offence if they do not. But the point is that so far there is no correlation between bad eyesight and road accidents.