Driving Question

[jayboi2005]

Hi,
so we all talk about Driving Standard but i always wonder this question.

What exactly is driving standard in terms of them numbers on your optician card. (I hope i havent lost you)

I think its SPH/CYL/AXIS

[GarethB]

Driving standard is 6/12, sph/cyle/axis does not enter into it, as long as you achieve 6/12 corrected or otherwise you are legal to drive.

Sph/cycle/axis are only used when it comes to making glasses or lenses as these determine the position and angle of astigmatism as far as I am aware.

[John Smith]

Jayboi, you will need to ask your optometrist for your snellen scale readings... that will give you the indication about driving suitablility.

[jayboi2005]

ok, THANKS!

[Michael P]

So how well one can see the 6/12 line is irrevelant? If one can just make it out , with hesitation, it is ok?

[jayuk]

Michael

I guess if you can make the 6/12 - 6/10 line and the Optometrist confirms it; you will be "legal"..However, its another thing you yourself being confident with that vision

J

[John Smith]

No, that's not "it". The 6/12 measurement is just a legal guideline. The real test is whether you can read a number plate at the required distance.

[GarethB]

When my sight is at the 6/12 line, I can read a standard number plate at 20.5 meters, but I have to concentrate a lot harder than looking at the 6/12 line.

with the multitude of driving qualifications I have, you still would not get me driving with that level of sight on the public roads.

If it were one car on a track like the blind guy on Tope Gear, then I would do it as the only one likely to get hurt would be me.

[jayuk]

But John, I would strongly suspect that a 6/10 - 6/12 on the Snellin would allow you to see the number plate?; due to the way in which the Snelling was developed and its correlation to near objects......

Im not incluidng near site and far site..just a general correct KC VA

J

[Susan Mason]

Hello all

Hope I am not throwing a spanner in the works here however, before I revoked my driving licence last year, after many months of not driving, I spent quite some time checking what I could and could not see and for me it was really odd.

In the eye clinic with a snellen eye chart on a light box I was ok (for quite some time) however, take me outside in normal daylight and show me a car and well, what can I say I had my husband in stitches and he called me Mrs Magoo.

Now I am not sure if this is because it is easier to see the letters on the light box or if I know them that well that subconciously I get them right. What in the end we resorted to was getting the number plate off the old allegro (which had gone to heaven) hanging it on the gate and pacing me 20.5 metres down the garden, the result most days I can't clearly read it however somedays (which are in the minority) at certain times of the day I can read it.
Result my licence went back as after all it is only a car and what use is it to you if you can get there and then not see well enough to get back? And also I found when you drive everyone finds it even harder to accept that you have a problem.

hope this makes sense

Susan