EYESIGHT TEST

Before you can take lessons your ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) will check that your eyesight is good enough to drive. He should ask you to read a number plate from at least 20.5 metres. If you need glasses or contact lenses to do this then you'll have to wear them whenever you drive.

If you fail this test the lessons shouldn't start.

At the start of your practical test you will be asked to take the eyesight test. If you fail, the test will not continue and you will lose your fee.

There's an eyesight test online that you can try but the best way is to find a car with nothing in the way of the number plate and, without looking at the number plate take, say, 22 paces (each about a metre in length) and turn round and see if you can read it. If you can't then you'll need to get glasses or contact lenses.

For more details about the eyesight test read on.

At the start of the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle.

The distance requirement for the eyesight test is

	20 metres for vehicles displaying the new-style number plate
	20.5 metres for vehicles displaying old-style number plates

New-style number plates start with two letters followed by two numbers, for example AB23 CDE.

If you can't read the first number plate correctly, you'll be asked to read a second number plate.

If you can't read the second number plate correctly, the examiner will measure the distance to a third number plate.

The third number plate will be at the measured distance - 20 or 20.5 metres - which will depend upon whether it is a new or old style plate.

If the examiner is satisfied that you don't meet the required eyesight standard, you'll fail the practical driving test and it will not continue.

This test failure will be marked on the driving test report form. Your interpretation of the number plate along with the correct one will be written on the back of the form along with the measured distance.

If you wear glasses or corrective lenses for the eyesight test, the law requires you wear them whenever you are driving and throughout your test. You are not allowed to remove your glasses or corrective lenses when carrying out test manoeuvres such as reversing.

If you wear glasses or lenses to read the number plate and remove them during the practical test, your examiner will remind you the law requires you to wear them. If you refuse to wear them, the test will not continue.

If you fail the eyesight requirement:

	the examiner will ask you to sign a form stating you were unable to comply with the eyesight requirements
	the examiner will notify the DVLA that you did not meet the eyesight requirements
	your provisional licence will be revoked

You'll then have to apply for another licence and the DVLA may ask the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to conduct a separate eyesight test for you at a test centre. If you are successful you'll still have to pass the DSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.