Company drivers at risk as employers fail to provide regular eye tests

Employees that drive for a living could be putting themselves and others at risk as companies fail to provide eyesight tests or demand they are carried out regularly, research suggests.

Almost one in five company drivers have not been tested for more than five years, according to the study of 1,276 workers by optician chain Specsavers. This is despite 98% believing accidents can be caused by poor eyesight.

Adrian Taylor, director of corporate healthcare at the firm, said: “Most employers are familiar with having to comply with legislation to have their employees’ eyes tested if they work with a VDU.

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“Yet in comparison, company vehicles are potentially one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment staff use. It is extremely worrying that most employers do very little to ensure the eyesight of those driving vehicles is checked.”

With 88% of drivers stating it should be compulsory for them to have their sight tested regularly, 91% believe that a law change would be effective in changing employer attitudes towards the provision of tests and glasses.