A SHOCKING number of British motorists may be putting themselves at risk of £1,000s in fines this winter.
With melting ice and rain falling across the country as the weather heats up, wet conditions are posing significant risks to road users.
Drivers are being urged to get their eyes checked this winterGetty – Contributor
Wet roads combined with winter sun and shorter days means drivers need to be extra vigilant – especially when it comes to their vision.
Research by Specsavers shows that nearly a fifth of motorists (19%) who need glasses for driving have not had their eyes tested for three years or more.
Win a McLaren 600LT Spider from 89p
SUN readers can win a McLaren 600LT Spider from 89p.
We have teamed up with 7days Performance to offer you a special discounted chance to win the amazing cars this week.
Using the code SUN10, you will get 10p off the normal price of 99p.
Full terms and conditions can be found here
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply.
New statistics from the Association of Optometrists (AOP) also show that two-thirds of people who wear glasses or contact lenses are “putting off” paying for vision correction.
With as many as 13 million taking to the road for the drive home for Christmas to be with their families, it’s important to stay safe behind the wheel.
The AA says: ‘If you’re found to be driving with less than adequate vision, you face up to a £1,000 fine, 3 points on your licence or a potential disqualification from driving.
‘The police can also request to have your licence revoked with immediate effect if they believe you pose a risk to the public.’
To help, Specsavers is sharing advice on how to access affordable eye care, as well as advice to ensure our eyes remain safely and firmly on the road.
It says to first make double-sure your prescription is correct if you wear glasses before you head home for Christmas.
Many people are entitled to free eye tests on the NHS, including people aged 60 or over, those under 18 in full-time education and anyone diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma.
Specsavers also want to remind drivers that the air can get dry and crisp during the winter.
It can be bad for our eyes and sometimes our driving habits can make them worse.
One thing drivers can do is make sure heating vents are angled in such a way that hot air is not blowing into the face, as this can dry out eyes.
Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical services director, says: ‘While we all want to rush off to see our loved ones over Christmas, it is important we’re staying safe and having good eyesight is one of the most basic requirements of safe driving.
“It means drivers will be able to spot potential dangers, see pedestrians and other vehicles, read road signs and judge speed, distance and movement.”