Car accidents linked to poor eyesight have reached a six-year high, with 252 people injured in 2023, according to new data, prompting warnings from experts.
This marks the highest number since 2017, when 262 people were hurt. The alarming statistics include six fatalities last year, with half of these being pedestrians.
The majority of those injured were passengers, highlighting how drivers with defective vision pose a danger to many more people than just themselves.
The figures have prompted calls for a clampdown on current eyesight testing rules for drivers.
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Experts are in favour of new changes to improve road safety
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DfT research also found that 42 per cent of incidents involving drivers over 70 were due to sight problems.
These findings have put pressure on ministers to change the rules for older drivers, with experts calling for those over 70 to face compulsory eye tests.
Last month, an inquest into the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight found enforcement of legal standards for motorists' vision was "ineffective and unsafe".
James Adeley, the senior coroner for Lancashire, has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander calling for action to prevent more deaths. He described Britain's licensing system as the "laxest in Europe".
Under current rules, drivers must reapply for their licence when they turn 70 and confirm they are medically fit to drive, although it is a matter of trust that they complete the application truthfully.
They must reapply every three years, but there is no medical test required to prove visual or physical fitness.
In a nationwide campaign last autumn, police forces tested 3,010 drivers' ability to read a number plate from 20 metres away, with 50 failing the test.
This suggests that nationwide, up to 720,642 motorists could be driving with defective vision.
Rob Heard, founder of the Older Drivers Forum, said: "The system is antiquated, it does need to change. We are seeing more and more lives being lost every year due to people with defective vision."
The only time most UK motorists have their eyesight checked is during their practical driving test, which can be taken from the age of 17. This test has not changed since the 1930s, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert, warned of potential consequences for drivers with poor eyesight.
"If a driver fails the test, they could be fined £1,000 or receive penalty points or even be disqualified from driving," Jones said.
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Experts have called for compulsory eyesight tests once a driver reaches 70 years of age
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He urged all drivers to have yearly eye tests and to "get it checked quickly" if they notice changes in their vision.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "Good eyesight is necessary for every driver, especially as we watch and use screens and expose our eyes to blue light.
"As drivers get older, regular eye tests are not only beneficial for staying safe on the roads but can also help to identify other potential medical problems."
A DfT spokesperson said: "The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight."
