Millions of drivers are at risk of putting themselves and others in danger when behind the wheel as experts call for new eyesight tests to be introduced for motorists.
New data from the College of Optometrists has found that six in ten UK drivers require prescription glasses to drive, yet a concerning 24 per cent admit they don't always wear them.
This revelation comes despite the fact that 95 per cent of sensory input needed for driving comes from vision.
Using prescription eyewear whilst driving not only improves safety through better vision but also helps reduce fatigue and glare from daylight, street lighting and oncoming vehicle headlights.
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Drivers are being urged to keep a spare pair of glasses in their vehicles
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Leading breakdown provider Start Rescue is now urging motorists who require glasses to keep a spare pair in their vehicle just in case.
Lee Puffett, managing director of Start Rescue, said: "It is essential drivers can read road signs and judge where they are going, especially if they need to guide their car to safety in the event of a breakdown.
"Even if you wear glasses or lenses all the time, we urge drivers to keep a spare pair in the car in case their usual ones are damaged or lost."
The risks of not wearing prescription glasses are particularly acute during challenging driving conditions, with research from the College of Optometrists showing 42 per cent of drivers struggle when driving at night or in poor weather.
Broken-down drivers are especially vulnerable in these conditions if other motorists aren't wearing their required eyewear.
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom, Clinical Adviser at the College of Optometrists, advises: "If you don't need your glasses all the time, but have been advised to wear them driving, keep a pair in the glove compartment of your car. That way you always have them when you really do need them."
Experts have stressed the importance of an extra pair when travelling abroad where it could be a legal requirement, including in France and Spain.
Puffett added that spare glasses "can be a life-saver". He added: "It's also important to keep your glasses clean, as well as the car's windscreen, to minimise glare and to see clearly."
It comes as experts continue to call on the Government to introduce new rules to crack down on motorists who could be breaking the law by not having the correct vision to be on the road.
Drivers must be able to read a car number plate after September 1, 2001, from 20 metres away. They can use glasses or contact lenses, if necessary.
The chief executive of the Association of Optometrists has consistently called for more to be done to prevent motorists from being dazzled by bright LED headlights.
Adam Sampson said: "With growing waiting lists for cataract operations and hospital eye appointments there is an added risk that we will see a growing number of these cases.
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Drivers could face a £1,000 fine by not wearing their glasses when at the wheel
PA"That is why we continue to call for a change to the law so regular vision checks are a mandatory part of licence application and renewal."
The Department for Transport has commissioned research to look into the impact of bright LED headlights, with hopes the results could influence future law changes.
