ACCURACY OF RECALL OF THE LEGAL NUMBER PLATE TESTING DISTANCE BY UK DRIVERS

A consecutive sample of 100 drivers attending practice for a routine e ye examination were asked to specify the legal vision test distance fo r compliance with U.K. driving requirements. Also recorded were age, g ender, vision uncorrected and acuity. The aim of the study was to inve stigate the accuracy of estimation by drivers and to determine whether there were any age or gender differences. The results show that 97% o f the sample were unable to specify the distance printed in the Highwa y Code and that 41% underestimated the distance as below 60 feet. This figure is discussed in the context of better education of drivers and the potential role this could have in improving road safety, Copyrigh t (C) 1997 The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.