Road Safety Week
16th – 22nd November is Road Safety Week across the UK. Coordinated by Brake, Road Safety Week is the UK’s biggest road safety event. It aims to inspire organisations and communities to take action on road safety.
Each year has a different theme to focus on, with this year being ‘NO NEED TO SPEED’. Speed contributes to one in five fatal crashes in the UK, with someone injured on a road every 4 minutes. Whilst speeding is an incredibly important factor in road safety, it is also important to ensure your vision is corrected to the highest standard.
Now the clocks have gone back, and the nights are getting darker many drivers will find themselves navigating roads in the dark. There are a high number of driving accidents that occur at night, and poor vision is identified as a major contributing factor. The results of the Association of Optometrists 2020 Voice of Optometry survey show that many people don’t realise how important good vision if for driving and the impact this has on the safety of others on the road.
Since the survey was carried out, it has been estimated that 5 million routine eye examinations have been missed due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. Poor eye health and reduced vision can have a significant affect on your ability to drive, which can worsen at night due to reduced visibility.
There are a few ways you can stay safe when driving in the dark:
- Keep up to date with your eye examinations. We recommend having an eye examination at least every two years unless your optometrist advises otherwise. If you do notice any changes in your vision when driving such as difficulty seeing road signs and markings it is important to have an eye examination even if it is not yet due.
- Make sure your windscreen is clean inside and out. A dirty windscreen can cause glare from low sun and headlights significantly reducing visibility.
- As wearing face masks has now become compulsory in many settings. Many spectacles wearers are suffering with glasses becoming fogged up. If you are wearing a face mask when driving, make sure that it does not affect your glasses and vision.
Should you have any concerns regarding your vision or driving at night, contact your local Bush Opticians and speak to member of our eyecare team today.