Eyesight Standards For Drivers Of Lorries And Passenger Carrying Vehicles

EDM number 714 in 1995-96, proposed by Eddie Loyden on 02/04/1996.

That this House, whilst mindful of the importance of raising safety standards on roads, expresses its deep concern that new eyesight regulations under European Driving Licence Directive (91/439/EEC) to be implemented from 1st July will force thousands of British professional drivers to lose their jobs; notes that, under the terms of the directive, member states have the right to retain 'grandfather rights' for drivers who satisfied previous eyesight requirements and whose eyesight has not deteriorated below those standards; further notes that the British Government has decided not to exercise this option, despite the fact that there is no evidence to show that drivers who wear glasses or contact lenses are a greater accident risk than those who do not; deplores the effect this action will have on professional drivers with proven safety records who will receive no compensation or right to re-training when thrown out of work and no right of appeal against the decision; welcomes the approaches being made by both the Transport and General Workers Union and the Road Haulage Association to try and resolve the situation; and urges the Government to urgently reconsider how the directive will be implemented in a way which will protect the livelihoods of skilled, safe professional drivers and safeguard the road transport industry.

This motion has been signed by a total of 44 MPs.