Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) accessibility and (b) suitability of Specsavers DVLA-mandated vision testing.

Drivers who notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of an underlying medical condition that may affect their vision are required to have a visual field test conducted.

Examinations by Specsavers are carried out to the exact specifications required to enable the DVLA to assess whether the visual field requirements for driving can be met.

If drivers choose to get your eyesight test from somewhere else, you can submit the results of an eyesight test done by another optician as long as it includes an ‘Esterman visual test’. DVLA do not guarantee they will accept an eyesight test done by other opticians.

Information about driving eyesight rules can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules.

The DVLA’s contract with Specsavers for vision testing services provides coverage across Great Britain. Specsavers is working to increase the number of stores available to carry out eyesight tests. In the meantime Specsavers may also utilise local opticians for customers who live more than 25 miles from their nearest Specsavers branch, for example those living in rural or semi-rural areas.