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D6 Health and eyesight

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Evidence required

Requirement

To require that drivers are fit to drive, are not impaired and meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving.

Purpose

To ensure drivers maintain a level of skill and ability to exercise proper control of the vehicle and interact safely with other road users.

Demonstration

FORS Operators shall have a policy and supporting procedures in place on fitness to drive and the eyesight standards for driving. The policy and supporting procedures shall include:

  • Minimum medical standards for driving
  • Illness and prescribed and over-the-counter medication
  • Health effects of driving such as posture and in-cab air quality
  • Impairment through drugs and alcohol
  • Fatigue-related illnesses such as sleep apnoea
  • Mental health problems such as stress, depression and anxiety
  • Minimum vision standards for driving and the use of glasses and contact lenses
  • A driver health and fitness declaration
  • Driver eyesight checks and tests

A driver eyesight check procedure shall be in place that requires drivers (with glasses or contact lenses, if required) to correctly read a UK vehicle registration plate made after 1 September 2001 from a distance of 20 metres, or a suitable alternative check.

Records of eyesight checks shall include the:

  • Driver’s name
  • Date
  • Name of the person supervising the check
  • Outcome of the check and details of any follow-on actions

The frequency of eyesight checks should be dependent on the individual and operating conditions but shall be conducted:

  • Pre-employment or the start of a specific contract
  • Every six months
  • After involvement in a blameworthy road traffic collision

A procedure shall be in place for drivers to make an annual declaration of their responsibility to report any health or eyesight condition that affects driving ability and to inform the DVLA or relevant driving licence authority of reportable medical conditions that affect driving entitlement.

A drugs and alcohol procedure shall be in place that includes the actions to take on suspecting driver impairment through drugs or alcohol.

This should include drug and alcohol testing that is conducted:

  • Pre-employment or the start of a specific contract
  • Routinely, randomly or unannounced
  • After involvement in a road traffic collision, incident or near-miss, where reasonably practical

The policy, procedures and records relevant to fitness to drive and eyesight standards shall be:

Prepare the following evidence

Documented health and eyesight policy and procedure.

  • Records of all eyesight checks completed since the last FORS Bronze audit. Examples of acceptable evidence include:
  • Completed eyesight check forms covering all required information
  • Third-party system records
  • Occupational health assessment records, where applicable

Evidence must show that drivers are required to complete an eyesight check at pre-employment and following a blameworthy road traffic collision.

Signed declarations completed within the previous 12 months confirming that all drivers acknowledged their responsibility to report any changes in their health or eyesight condition and to inform the DVLA or relevant driving licence authority of reportable medical conditions. Examples of acceptable evidence include:

  • Signed driver declaration forms
  • Electronic system-generated records showing the driver identification and date/time of declaration being signed

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