A report commissioned by insurance company Royal and SunAlliance has concluded that a high percentage of road crashes are caused by poor driver vision and the insurer has called for reform on driver eve testing.

The report, was produced as part of RSA’s Fit to Drive campaign and was launched at a Parliamentary event in Westminster. It calls for a number of safety related changes for UK drivers including:

- The current number plate test to be scrapped, as this does not provide an accurate assessment of a drivers’ vision.
- All learner drivers to have their vision tested by a qualified professional prior to applying for a provisional driving licence.
- Eye tests to be mandatory every 10 years, linked to driving licence renewal; with drivers encouraged to voluntarily have their eyes tested every two years.

RSA say that these changes could save the UK economy £14.4 million per year once fully implemented.

Adrian Brown, RSA UK & Western Europe CEO, said: “The report’s figures speak for themselves. If we simply make an eye test mandatory when getting your first driving licence and when renewing every 10-years we will save lives and reduce the strain on public finances.”