HC Deb 28 October 1983 vol 47 cc226-7W
Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange to have included in the official booklet "Your Driving Test" additional information, such as that contained in the letter of 8 September from the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Harborough.

Mrs. Chalker

No. There is a limit to the amount of information on any one aspect of the test that can be included in it.

There is no evidence that candidates for the driving test are generally concerned about the eyesight procedures. These are explained more fully in the Department's publication "Driving" which learners are advised to study.

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Harborough of 8 September relating to the readibility of road signs by applicants for drivers' licences.

Mrs. Chalker

The information requested is as followsThank you for your letter dated 25 July, questioning the way in which driving examiners conduct the eyesight test. The eyesight requirement is laid down by Regulations which require that a candidate for the driving test must satisfy the examiner that he can read in good daylight (with the aid of glasses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle at a distance of 75 feet for characters 3½ inches high (or 67 feet for characters 3 ⅛inches high). This is a minimum requirement and examiners do in practice ask candidates to read a motor vehicle registration mark at a distance that is clearly further than this. This means that they can be sure to have met the legal requirements without spending time on measuring the distance. In fact most candidates have no difficulty in reading a registration mark from a point that is beyond the prescribed distance. If a candidate cannot at first read a registration mark, the examiner will select another and, if necessary, allow the candidate to move forward to a point just beyond the prescribed distance. If he is again unsuccessful the examiner will measure the precise distance to a third registration mark. Only if the candidate is unsuccessful at this third precisely measured attempt and the examiner is satisfied beyond doubt of the candidate's inability to comply with the eyesight requirement, will the candidate fail the test for this reason. Over the years we have found this method to be the simplest and fairest way in which to conduct the eyesight test.