Arrive Alive

Eyesight and Safety on the Road

Eye Care And Road SafetyWhy is good eyesight so important?

Most of the information we use when driving comes to us through the eyes, like the road we are travelling on, road signs, pedestrians and other vehicles. Our eyes control most of our movements and decisions while driving.

All drivers, especially you as a professional driver, must ensure that your eyes receive good care and attention because poor eyesight becomes a safety hazard to yourself and other road users.

How Are The Eyes Used When Driving?

This is the ability to focus and see clearly with both eyes. With good visual accuracy, you will see detail very easily. For professional drivers, this is very important, because good visual acuity is what helps you to identify road signs, cyclists, pedestrians and animals.

All Round Vision

This is the ability to see over a wider area without moving your eyes or your head as if you are “looking out of the corner of your eyes”.

Depth Perception

This is the ability to judge space and distance between objects, or between an object and a vehicle. Depth perception relies on good binocular vision, essential for judging whether a car can be passed safely in the face of oncoming traffic or when moving from one lane to another.

Night Vision

The ability to see during low light beyond your headlights, to see in the glare from oncoming headlights and to recover quickly from the effects of glare. Night vision deteriorates with age and older drivers with reduced vision will need to exercise greater care when driving at dusk and at night.

How Are The Eyes Used When Driving

Eye Conditions

Dry Eyes

This may be caused by humidity, smoke, certain medications like anti-allergy or sinus tables and sometimes, simply because of getting older. Tear Solution from your local chemist would help, but talk to the pharmacist about the problem first!

Pink Eye

This is the inflammation on the inside of the eyelid and surface of the eye, caused by bacteria, viruses or pollution. The eyes become red, the eyelids are swollen, the eyes water all the time and at night, the eyelids stick together. Pink eye is contagious, so a visit to your doctor for the right treatment and advice is a must.

Cataracts

These are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye. Cataracts can be caused by diabetes or exposure to ultraviolet light. Cataracts are easily spotted during routine eye exams. Important - untreated cataracts lead to blindness.

Glaucoma

This happens when there is too much pressure on the eyeball. If the pressure is not relieved, the optic nerve of the eye may be damaged, causing blindness. Have a regular eye test to spot problems quickly to fix them.

What Causes Poor Eyesight:

  • Natural ageing process
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Ear Infections and Sinus
  • Overactive thyroid function

Signs of Deteriorating Eyesight:

  • Constant headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Not being able to focus
  • Sore, burning or red eyes

How do Vitamins Help Maintain Good Vision?

  • Vitamin A - Maintains good night vision, and is found in liver, carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes and broccoli. Heat, light, alcohol, coffee and smoking destroys Vitamin A.
  • Vitamin B2 - A shortage of Vitamin B2 causes burning eyes, sensitivity to bright light and cataracts. Mushrooms, asparagus, bean sprouts, milk and fish are good sources of Vitamin B2.
  • Selenium - Too little selenium in your diet could cause cataracts. Make sure you include tuna, herring, cottage cheese and chicken to keep selenium levels up.

Eye Care Tips For Safer Driving:

  • If you have prescription glasses or contact lenses for driving, make sure you always wear them.
  • Make sure your headlight glass is clean; that the bulbs are in good working order and that the lighting system is in the correct position.
  • Don’t state at oncoming headlights - it takes longer to recover from the glare. Rather look slightly to the left of the oncoming vehicle.
  • Have your eyes tested once a year to be certain that you have the visual skills necessary to be a safe driver!
  • Wear professionally prescribed sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun glare.

It is your personal responsibility to make sure that you have the visual skills necessary to drive safely.

Also view:

Eye Protection and Road Safety

Driving and Clear Vision

Eye Diseases and Driver Fitness 

Road Safety and the Importance of Vision

Loading...

Search Road Safety Articles

Latest Pages

Road Deaths, Wills Drafting and Estate Administration

Road Deaths, Wills Drafting and Estate Administration

In South Africa, we experience horrific road deaths, injuries and trauma related to incidents on our roads. Through the Arrive Alive road safety initiative we strive to create awareness that could reduce these fatalities and injuries from not only preventable road crashes, but also the impact of crime

Read More

Bus Crashes, Crash Investigation and Preventative Measures

Bus Crashes, Crash Investigation and Preventative Measures

South Africa has recently experienced a significant increase in road fatalities among our bus passengers. There have been within the short time frame of 2 weeks 3 horrific bus crashes in KZN, the Free State and Gauteng. Is this merely a coincidence or what is contributing to the increase in fatal

Read More

Guide to Bus Passenger Safety

Guide to Bus Passenger Safety

Introduction to Safety for Passengers During the start of 2011, there have been horrific and alarming bus crashes across the globe. Studies have however revealed that the transportation of school children is safest in buses and in fact significantly safer than transporting school children in minibuses,

Read More

Twelve motorcycles impounded in Alberton

Twelve motorcycles impounded in Alberton

On Thursday 06 February 2025 between the hours of 11:00 and 14:00,the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Overloads Unit Officers, impounded twelve(12) motorcycles for failing to meet the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act 93/1996 in the Alberton area. While conducting law

Read More

Toll Roads in South Africa

Toll Roads in South Africa

Why have toll roads? Roads form the main artery of economic competitiveness, growth and social development. To Build roads costs billions of rands. Toll roads assist us in meeting the demands of social services, which are important for the growth of our country. Toll roads accelerate the availability

Read More

LocaTrack: Enhancing Family Safety on the Roads This Summer

LocaTrack: Enhancing Family Safety on the Roads This Summer

Introduction With the summer season upon us, South Africa's roads become busier as families travel for holidays, making road safety more critical than ever. As part of the Arrive Alive Summer Campaign, LocaTrack provides a unique tool for keeping families connected and secure on the go. This

Read More

Load More Pages

Partners

View All