A safe car is nothing without safe vision

Blog by Jenkin

A car’s most important safety feature is you.

Technology has undeniably made cars and driving safer.  However, until we truly have a society where all vehicles will be driverless, the important role vision plays in driver safety is critical.  When shopping for a car, most are concerned about their car’s abilities but don’t thinks about the major influential factor in crashes: human error.

We know that vision is the most important sense for making decisions on the road and uncorrected vision, in addition to visual impairment from ocular diseases, are a major contributor to crash risk.  Road safety needs to start with good vision, and that means seeing well at all distances, in all conditions.

The lack of awareness around driver safety is concerning, as an optometrist, but also as fellow motorist. Vision is responsible for 90% of the information used when driving.  Even a small change in vision is a cause for concern.

But how do you know if you might be at risk?  Ask yourself if you experience any of the following:

• Trouble recognising details on road signs or number plates?
• Difficulty judging distance or oncoming vehicles, particularly at night?
• Trouble seeing clearly in changing light conditions eg from daylight to dusk, or dusk to night?
• Visual sensitivity to oncoming headlights?
• Need to move your head to see in side mirrors or read your dashboard clearly?
• Reluctance to drive at night or in unfamiliar environments?
• Uncertainty and lack of confidence behind the wheel?

Driving and modern-day living go hand-in-hand.  Australians are spending more time in their cars and commuting and traffic is ever-increasing.  Poor vision is a contributor to read accidents and yet it is a risk every driver can easily reduce by;

• Get your vision checked regularly by an optometrist
• Protect your eyes from glare
• Wear your glasses (for distance vision) when behind the steering wheel

At our practice we perform a 360° eye consultation, including a holistic and extensive eye examination plus advice of health, diet and lifestyle.  We have available, more options and technologies than ever before to help you stay on the road including: vision correction, progressive lenses, anti-reflection coatings, and polarised sunglasses.