BikeSafe Eye Test

gmc38609 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 May 2013 Karma :

How strict are they on the eye test.
My eyes are borderline and sometimes I may get some letters/numbers mixed up.
In my car and bike test I got a couple wrong but went on to pass both tests first time and apart from reading sign posts it does not effective my riding/driving.
However I just signed up and paid for a bikesdafe course only to read they give you an eye test being the police do you need to pass 100% and could |i loose my licences if i fail?

Az · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Karma :

I don't think they are there to actually police you, so i doubt you'd lose your license for failing an eye test or face any consequences. From what my brothers told me, once you hit the country lanes with the coppers they speed up quite a lot, way above the speed limit.

As for them being strict on eye tests or not, I couldn't tell u as i haven't done Bike Safe.. i'd imagine if your eyes were good enough for test standard they'd be good enough for your bike safe course, unless your eyes have gone worse.

t121anf · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Karma :

No eye test, checking of the bike etc with Cleveland Police.

Simply there to check how good your riding is.

fozzym · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Karma :

Glasses?

TheCatSatOnTh... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 Nov 2013 Karma :

I feel confused. Are you worried you'll be able to read the letters but get them mixed up? Or are you worried your sight won't meet the minimum standard legally required to ride a bike?

waffles · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Karma :

Met Police didn't do an eye test for me. Actually I forgot my insurance docs and had a loud exhaust but they still let me go out. The guy I was with told me to give it the beans on many occasions Smile

____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

ZebraDriver · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Feb 2011 Karma :

When I did my bikesafe they were careful to check all participants eyesight and they also spent a bit of time ensuring that licences and insurance etc were in order, they ran a DVLA check on one guy who had forgot to bring his licence.

If you take it from their point of view, training someone who was not legal would be seriously embarrassing to them.

Once you are out on the road they become relaxed about speed etc outside of marked limits

ZD

Derek1943 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 23 Nov 2013 Karma :

Hi

It cannot be a problem if you see numbers the wrong way around in fact many people have this problem. Richard Branson has or had this problem being dyslexic but he is certainly nobodies fool.

If however it is your actual sight then get this checked out for some eye disorders like glaucoma can be treated but if left can cause irreversible blindness, apart from the fact you might have an accident.

Derek

-Monty- · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2012 Karma :

Dorset Police that I did BikeSafe with didn't do an eyesight test. Just made sure the tires weren't unreasonably worn and that was about it.
____________________
Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

yen_powell · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :

I did it with the Met and they never did an eye test (free with work). I think he looked for a tax disc and kicked my tyres and they photocopied my licence and insurance before we even went outside to the bikes.
____________________
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gmc38609 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 May 2013 Karma :

My eyes are on the limit but I have passed 2 tests, if some counties dont do eye tests them I am sure I have nothing to worry about panic over lol.

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Karma :

OP. If you sometimes get your letters and numbers mixed up, as you say, are you sure you are not dyslexic, even to a slight degree, as opposed to suffering from poor eyesight?

Don't get me wrong, this is not a criticism but, a genuine question/thought.

gmc38609 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 May 2013 Karma :

No deffo my eyesight, I was +6 and +9 so had eye surgery which reduced it to +2.5 and now need glasses just for reading books etc. As I said in all situations accept reading number plates at 20 metres or over and sign posts although I can see them in time just later than most, it makes know difference. I would hate to loose my licences if the poilce decided my eyes were not good enough which is why I posted this..
On both my tests I got a number and letter wrong because it is just on the border of my field of vision, neither examiner said anything and I only know because I got a bit closer and checked without them noticing
However I did pass and my optician has said my vision is good enough in one eye to drive although not commercially as the test is harder and both eyes need to be able to pass.

maximerto · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 06 Jun 2013 Karma :

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Is there a reason you don't just get some glasses?

I find seeing clearly and at long distances most useful.

barrkel · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Karma :

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

It is an offence under section 96 of the RTA to drive with uncorrected defective eyesight. You can get 3 points and up to £1000 fine.

That's the legal facts out of the way. Practically, you have to be able to read a standard car number plate from 20m. On my Bike Safe they did a "stand here, read that" test as we made our way to the bikes. They did check our insurance, MoT and licences before leaving the briefing room but the check over of the bikes consisted of "are you happy that it is safe to ride?". This was Thames Valley.

Why not actually get your eyesight sorted out? I wear glasses for driving/riding and for things like the cinema and reading presentations at a meeting, but leave them off the rest of the time.

If you fail the eye test at the Bike Safe, the best outcome is they'll refuse to let you out and ask you to get it sorted. The worst is that they report you for the offence above. One thing they look for is attitude. "I reckon I can get away with it" is not the attitude they're looking for.
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~~Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT~~ | BMW F900XR TE

gmc38609 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 May 2013 Karma :

I have had the best treatment money can buy for my eyesight with surgery and I still struggle to pass the eyesight test for driving/ riding. If I knew there was a sight test I would not have booked the course, but I did not and did. Maybe its best if I just dont attend which is a shame and get training from Rospa who I have also joined.
I have been driving 20 years and have never had an accident or incident due to my eyesight, I just struggle with seeing a number plate at 20 metres Sad

I drive a forklift for a living and have had many eye tests for that, which have been OK

suburban myth · Spanner Monkey Joined: 13 Feb 2013 Karma :

My eyesight hasn't changed since I was in my teens including passing my car test at 17 when I read the number plate quite clearly. When I applied for a provisional PSV and was subject to a medical and eye test my license came back with an '01' code for all categories.

In essence I had been motoring around illegally for over 12 years. I am now of the opinion that all applicants should be sent for a proper medical when they send off for a provisional. One guy who I started at the bus company with discovered he was a diabetic during this process.